Hifikepunye Pohamba facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hifikepunye Pohamba
Pohamba in 2014
2nd President of Namibia
In office 21 March 2005 – 21 March 2015
Prime Minister	Nahas Angula (2005-2012) Hage Geingob (2012-2015)
Preceded by	Sam Nujoma
Succeeded by	Hage Geingob
President of SWAPO
In office 29 November 2007 – 19 April 2015
Preceded by	Sam Nujoma
Succeeded by	Hage Geingob
Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation
In office 2000–2005
President	Sam Nujoma
Preceded by	Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana
Succeeded by	Jerry Ekandjo
Minister without portfolio
In office 1997–2000
President	Sam Nujoma
Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources
In office 1995–1997
President	Sam Nujoma
Preceded by	Helmut Angula
Succeeded by	Abraham Iyambo
Minister of Home Affairs
In office 1990–1995
Preceded by	position established
Succeeded by	Jerry Ekandjo
Personal details
Born	Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba (1935-08-18) 18 August 1935 (age 88) Okanghudi, South West Africa (now Namibia)
Political party	SWAPO
Spouse(s)	Penehupifo Pohamba
Children	Tulongeni Kaupu Ndapanda
Alma mater	Peoples' Friendship University of Russia
Religion	Anglicanism

Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba (born 18 August 1935) is a Namibian politician who served as the second president of Namibia from 21 March 2005 to 21 March 2015. He won the 2004 presidential election overwhelmingly as the candidate of SWAPO, and was reelected in 2009. Pohamba was the president of SWAPO from 2007 until his retirement in 2015. He is a recipient of the Ibrahim Prize.

Prior to his presidency, Pohamba served in various ministerial positions, beginning at Namibia's independence in 1990. He was Minister of Home Affairs from 1990 to 1995, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources from 1995 to 1997, Minister without portfolio from 1997 to 2000, and Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation from 2000 to 2005. He was also secretary-general of SWAPO from 1997 to 2002 and vice-president of SWAPO from 2002 to 2007.

Early life

Hifikepunye Pohamba was born on 18 August 1935 in Okanghudi, South West Africa, in an area then known as Ovamboland (today in the Ohangwena Region of Namibia). He completed his primary school education in the Anglican Holy Cross Mission school in Onamunhama, and in 1956 took up work at the Tsumeb mine.

Private life

Pohamba is married to Penehupifo since 1983. The couple owns farm Guinaspoh #41 near Otavi.

Honours

Foreign honours

•  Liberia:
  • Grand Cordon of the Order of the Pioneers of Liberia (29 July 2009)

Awards

• Pohamba is a recipient of the Omugulugwombashe Medal for Bravery and Long Service.
• In 2011, he was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy honoris causa by the University of Namibia.
• In 2015, he was awarded the 2014 Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership of $5 million by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
• On 29 April 2016, he was awarded a Doctorate honoris causa by the University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

See also

In Spanish: Hifikepunye Pohamba para niños