Engel Nawatiseb
Engel Nawatiseb | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology | |
| In office 2018–2020 | |
| President | Hage Geingob |
| Prime Minister | Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila |
| Succeeded by | Emma Theofilus |
| Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises | |
| In office 2015–2018 | |
| President | Hage Geingob |
| Prime Minister | Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila |
| Member of the National Assembly from Tsumeb Constituency | |
| In office 20 March, 2015 – 20 March, 2020 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 June 1969 Oshikoto Region, Namibia |
Engelbrecht A. Nawatiseb (born 20 June 1969) is a Namibian politician who served as the Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology from 2018 to 2024. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization, he previously served as Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises from 2015 to 2018 and a member of the National Assembly from 2015 to 2020.[1]
Career
[edit]Throughout his career, Nawatiseb has been a member of the South West Africa People's Organization. His membership in the party was briefly interrupted for about a month in 2024, when he left SWAPO to join the Landless People's Movement (LPM).[2] This decision came after Nawatiseb made calls for younger leadership within SWAPO.[3] Nawatiseb would quickly abandon the party to rejoin SWAPO.[2]
According to the LPM's leadership, Nawatiseb left after being embarrassed by party members who took back a car that had been assigned to him for the LPM's fifth anniversary celebrations. Older party members had felt threatened by Nawatiseb taking on such responsibilities despite only recently joining, and had demanded that they be allowed to drive the car as well. However, LPM spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa explained that Nawatiseb's assignment to the car had been a routine procedure, as he was the only one on the mobilisation team who was licensed to drive.[4]
In 2024, the Namibian Government sued Nawatiseb for his refusal to pay an unused travel allowance from a cancelled trip to Spain, as well as for salary overpayment.[5][6]
Controversy
[edit]Nawatiseb would face controversy in 2024 when a video of him slapping a bartender in Tsumeb was circulated online. Nawatiseb would defend his actions, stating that the bar was causing noise pollution. This claim was disputed by the bartender, who stated that the slap was unrelated to any noise pollution the bar may have caused.[7] The video was criticised by members of the Popular Democratic Movement, to which Nawatiseb responded by describing the PDM as a "total reject in Tsumeb".[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "!Nawatiseb, Engelbrecht A." parliament.na. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ a b Hamalwa, Festus. "Nawatiseb makes U-turn on LPM". New Era Live. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ Amutenja, Hertta-Maria. "FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER NAWATISEB LEAVES SWAPO TO JOIN LPM". Windhoek Observer. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ Ndeyanale, Eliaser. "LPM party insiders claim former deputy minister was 'humiliated'". The Namibian. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "Namibia: Govt Sues Ex-Deputy Minister Over Travel Allowance". AllAfrica. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "S&T funds of a cancelled trip haunt former Information Minister Nawatiseb". All Namibian News. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "BARTENDER RECALLS SLAP FROM EX-DEPUTY MINISTER". Namibian Sun. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ Matthys, Donald. "Former deputy minister defends slapping bar lady". The Namibian. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
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