Theo-Ben Gurirab facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Theo-Ben Gurirab
|
|
|---|---|
_02.jpg) |
|
| Speaker of the National Assembly | |
| In office 20 March 2005 – 20 March 2015 |
|
| President | Hifikepunye Pohamba |
| Preceded by | Mose Penaani Tjitendero |
| Succeeded by | Peter Katjavivi |
| 2nd Prime Minister of Namibia | |
| In office 28 August 2002 – 20 March 2005 |
|
| President | Sam Nujoma |
| Preceded by | Hage Geingob |
| Succeeded by | Nahas Angula |
| President of the United Nations General Assembly | |
| In office 14 September 1999 – 5 September 2000 |
|
| Preceded by | Didier Opertti |
| Succeeded by | Harri Holkeri |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 21 March 1990 – 26 August 2002 |
|
| President | Sam Nujoma |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Hidipo Hamutenya |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 January 1938 Usakos, South West Africa |
| Died | 14 July 2018 (aged 80) Windhoek, Namibia |
| Nationality | Namibian |
| Political party | SWAPO |
| Spouse | Joan Gurirab |
| Children | 2 |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Teacher |
Theo-Ben Gurirab (born 23 January 1938 – died 14 July 2018) was an important politician from Namibia. He held many high-ranking jobs in the government. He was the second Prime Minister of Namibia from 2002 to 2005. Before that, he was Namibia's first Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 2002. He also served as the President of the United Nations General Assembly from 1999 to 2000. Later, he became the Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia from 2005 to 2015. He retired from politics in 2015.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Theo-Ben Gurirab was born on 23 January 1938 in a town called Usakos in the Erongo Region of Namibia. In 1960, he earned a teaching diploma from the Augustineum Training College in Okahandja. Later, in 1964, while living in the United States, he earned a degree in political science from Temple University in Pennsylvania.
Political Career Highlights
Gurirab lived outside Namibia from 1962 to 1989. He first went to Tanganyika. There, he received a special study scholarship from the United Nations, which allowed him to move to the United States.
Working with the United Nations
From 1964 to 1972, he was a representative for the SWAPO group at the United Nations and in the United States. Then, from 1972 to 1986, he became the head of the SWAPO Mission to the United Nations. After that, he was SWAPO's Secretary for Foreign Affairs from 1986 to 1990.
Helping to Build Namibia
Gurirab was a member of the Constituent Assembly from November 1989 to March 1990. This group worked just before Namibia became independent. He was a very important person in writing Namibia's Constitution.
From 1990 to 2015, he was a member of the National Assembly. He also served on important committees within the SWAPO party.
Minister and Prime Minister
He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990, when Namibia became independent. He held this role until 2002, when President Sam Nujoma appointed him as the Prime Minister.
While he was the Foreign Minister, he was chosen to be the President of the United Nations General Assembly. He held this important international position from September 1999 to September 2000. One of his big achievements at the UN was leading the talks that helped bring Walvis Bay back into Namibian control. This was done following a United Nations resolution.
Speaker of the National Assembly
After the 2004 election, Gurirab was chosen as the Speaker of the National Assembly. He started this role on 20 March 2005.
From 2008 to 2011, Gurirab was the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). This is an international group that connects parliaments from different countries.
He was re-elected to the National Assembly in the November 2009 election. On 19 March 2010, he was unanimously re-elected as Speaker. He spoke about how important the Constitution is, saying he knew the great vision it had for Namibia. He also mentioned its promise of national unity, democracy, and protecting the gains from Namibia's fight for freedom.
In August 2014, Gurirab was not on the list of candidates for the November 2014 election. On 20 March 2015, Peter Katjavivi took over as Speaker of the National Assembly.
Later Life and Death
Theo-Ben Gurirab passed away in a hospital in Windhoek on 14 July 2018. He was buried at Heroes' Acre, a national monument in Namibia.
Awards and Honors
- 1999: Received an honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Namibia.
- Awarded the Order of the Sun First Class.
- Since 2002: Member of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.
- 2000: Given an Honorary Professorship of Foreign Affairs by the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing. He was only the third non-Chinese person to receive this honor.
- 2000: A founding member of the Olympic Truce Foundation in Athens.
- 2011: Named Honorary President of the IPU.
