Peya Mushelenga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Honourable
Peya Mushelenga
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| Minister of International Relations & Cooperation | |
| In office 9 February 2024 – 21 March 2025 |
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| President | Nangolo Mbumba |
| Preceded by | Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah |
| Succeeded by | Selma Ashipala-Musavyi |
| Minister of Information and Communications Technology | |
| In office 21 March 2020 – 9 February 2024 |
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| President | Hage Geingob Nangolo Mbumba |
| Preceded by | Stanley Simataa |
| Succeeded by | Emma Theofelus |
| Minister of Urban and Rural Development | |
| In office 8 February 2018 – 21 March 2020 |
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| President | Hage Geingob |
| Preceded by | Sophia Shaningwa |
| Succeeded by | Erastus Uutoni |
| Deputy minister of International Relations and Cooperation | |
| In office 21 March 2010 – 8 February 2018 |
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| President | Hifikepunye Pohamba Hage Geingob |
| Succeeded by | Christine ǁHoebes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 1, 1975 Oshigambo, Oshikoto Region |
| Alma mater | University of Namibia University of South Africa Open University of Tanzania University of London Eastern and Southern African Management Institute University of the Western Cape |
Samuel Abraham Peyavali "Peya" Mushelenga (born September 1, 1975) is a politician and poet from Namibia. He is known for his impressive education, having earned many university degrees.
Mr. Mushelenga is a member of the SWAPO political party. He served in the National Assembly of Namibia, which is like Namibia's parliament, from 2005 until March 20, 2025. He has held several important jobs in the government cabinet. His most recent role was as the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, serving from February 9, 2024, to March 21, 2025.
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Early Life and Education
Peya Mushelenga was born in Oshigambo, a place in the Oshikoto Region of northern Namibia. He went to Oluno Senior Secondary School until 1992. After that, he started his university studies at the University of Namibia (UNAM).
Mushelenga's Many Degrees
Peya Mushelenga has earned many university degrees throughout his life. He has fifteen university degrees from different universities. The New Era newspaper even called him "Namibia's most avid scholar" because he loves learning so much.
Here are some of the degrees he has earned:
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History and Political Studies from the University of Namibia (UNAM) in 1995.
- BA Honours in International Politics from the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 1997.
- Master of Arts (MA) in International Politics from UNISA in 2009.
- Bachelor of Laws (B Juris) from UNAM in 2011.
- LLB (Honours) from UNAM in 2014.
- Doctor of Literature and Philosophy (D Litt et Phil) in International Politics from UNISA in 2015.
- BA in Economics from the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) in 2017.
- Master of Laws (LLM) from UNAM in 2017.
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) in 2018.
- Bachelor of Education (BEd) from OUT in 2019.
- Master of Science (MSc) in Finance from the University of London, United Kingdom, in 2020.
- PhD in Criminal Justice Law from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, in 2022.
- Bachelor of Theology (BTh) from UNISA in 2022.
- Master of Education (MEd) in English from Great Zimbabwe University in 2023.
- BTh Honours from UNISA in 2025.
Mr. Mushelenga is also a qualified lawyer. He is allowed to practice law as an attorney in the High Court of Namibia.
Political Career and Public Service
After getting his first degree from UNAM, Peya Mushelenga worked as a teacher. He taught at Nehale Senior Secondary School in 1996. He then worked for the Namibian Government until 1998. After that, he joined a company called NamPower.
Early Political Involvement
Mr. Mushelenga became involved in politics when he was young. He was active in the Namibia National Students Organisation in the 1980s. Later, he became a high-level leader for the SWAPO Party Youth League. He was chosen to be part of the Central Committee and National Executive of the SPYL in 1997 and 2002.
In 2002, he led a large group of 250 SWAPO Party Youth League leaders. They went to Sochi, Russia, for the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students. This event was organized by the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) and the Russian government. Also in 2002, he was elected to the SWAPO Central Committee. He was the youngest member at that time. He was re-elected to this committee in 2007 and 2012.
Serving in Government
Peya Mushelenga became a member of the Parliament of Namibia in 2005. In 2010, he was appointed as the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs.
On February 8, 2018, he was promoted to a new role. He became the Minister of Urban and Rural Development. This happened during a big change in the government cabinet. Later, on March 21, 2020, Mr. Mushelenga was appointed as the Minister of Information and Communication Technology.
Personal Life
In 1980, when Peya Mushelenga was young, his family experienced a difficult event. Security forces from South Africa attacked their family home. His sister was killed, and other relatives were injured during this raid.
Mr. Mushelenga is also a poet. A book of his poems was published in 1996. The book is called Nando Na Li Toke. It is written in the Ovambo dialect of Ndonga.
