Natangwe Ithete

Natangwe Ithete
Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia
In office
21 March 2025 – 26 October 2025
PresidentNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Prime MinisterElijah Ngurare
Preceded byJohn Mutorwa
Succeeded byvacant
Minister of Industrialization, Mines and Energy
In office
21 March 2025 – 26 October 2025
PresidentNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Prime MinisterElijah Ngurare
Preceded byTom Alweendo
Succeeded byNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Deputy Minister of Finance
In office
21 March 2015 – 21 March 2020
PresidentHage Geingob
Prime MinisterSaara Kuugongelwa
Preceded byCalle Schlettwein
Succeeded byMaureen Hinda-Mbuende
Personal details
Born (1976-01-09) 9 January 1976 (age 49)
NationalityNamibia
PartySWAPO
ResidenceWindhoek

Natangwe Paulus Ithete (born 9 January 1976) is a Namibian politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industrialization, Mines, and Energy of the Republic of Namibia in 2025. He is also a legislator in the Parliament of Namibia as a member of the National Assembly. Ithete served in President Hage Geingob's administration as Deputy Minister of Finance from 2015 to 2020.

Education

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Ithete obtained a diploma in Human Resources and Labour Relations from the Academy of York in Randburg, South Africa, a diploma in Property Finance and Economic Evaluation from Damelin, and a certificate in banking.[1]

Professional career

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Ithete worked as an office administrator from 2000 to 2002. He then joined Agribank of Namibia and worked there until 2015. In 2013, Ithete became vice president of the Namibia Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu) 2013.[1]

Political career

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Ithete is a member of SWAPO and held several positions in the SWAPO Party Youth League. He became a member of parliament in 2015.[2] President Hage Geingob appointed him as deputy to the Minister of Finance. He served until 2020 but did not retain his cabinet seat in Geingob's second term, a development that was seen as a "surprise".[3] In the 2020–2025 legislative period, he was the chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on economics and public administration.[1]

Ithete was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia, as well as Minister of Industrialization, Mines and Energy, on 21 March 2025.[4] On 26 October 2025, he was dismissed from his ministerial position at the Ministry of Mines and Energy and from his role as Deputy Prime Minister. He remains a member of parliament. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah assumed the position of Minister of Mines and Energy herself.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Ithete, Paulus Natangwe". Parliament of Namibia. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Publication of results and particulars in respect of general election for election of members of National Assembly: Electoral Act, 2014" (pdf). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. No. 5641. Government of Namibia. 30 December 2014. pp. 3–7.
  3. ^ "Iithete says ministerial contract ended gracefully". Namibian Sun. 7 July 2020.
  4. ^ Shikololo, Aletta (24 March 2025). "NNN ushers Namibia into new era". New Era.
  5. ^ Endjala, Martin; Shihepo, Timo (27 October 2025). "Nandi-Ndaitwah fires Ithete over alleged misconduct and Cabinet interference". The Namibian.