Peter Katjavivi | |
|---|---|
 Katjavivi in 2017 | |
| Speaker of the National Assembly | |
| In office 21 March 2015 – 21 March 2025 | |
| President | Hage Geingob (2015–2024) Nangolo Mbumba (2024-2025) |
| Preceded by | Theo-Ben Gurirab |
| Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Namibia | |
| In office 1992–2003 | |
| Succeeded by | Lazarus Hangula |
| Chancellor of theNamibia University of Science and Technology | |
| Assumed office October 2016 | |
| Deputy | Tjama Tjivikua |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1941-05-12)12 May 1941 (age 83) Okahandja South-West Africa |
| Nationality | Namibian |
| Political party | SWAPO |
| Spouse | Jane Katjavivi (1981–2022) |
| Children | 5 (includingPerivi Katjavivi) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Professor |
Peter Hitjitevi Katjavivi (born 12 May 1941) is aNamibian politician who served as Speaker of theNational Assembly of Namibia from March 2015 until March 2025. He was also the chancellor of theNamibia University of Science and Technology from 1992 to 2003. Previously he was the founding Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Namibia from 1992 to 2003, Ambassador to theEuropean Union from 2003 to 2006, Ambassador toGermany from 2006 to 2008, and Director General of theNational Planning Commission from 2008 to 2010.[1][2]
Peter Katjavivi was born in Okahandja and attended a primary school inWindhoek, then theAugustineum Secondary School in Okahandja (1960–61) and theGovernment College Umuahia, Nigeria (1963-1966). In 1966/67 he began studying History, Law, and Political Science at theUniversity of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Katjavivi joinedSWAPO in the 1960s and was head of SWAPO's overseas offices in London. In 1986 he obtained a doctorate (DPhil) atSt Antony's College, Oxford.
In 1989, he was a member of theConstituent Assembly of Namibia. From 1992 to 2003 he was Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Namibia, the foundation of which he had significant influence. Katjavivi was a member of numerous national and international educational, cultural, and research organizations. He served as President of the Namibia Economic Policy Research Unit beginning in 1990, as Chairman of the Council of National Monuments (now theNational Heritage Council of Namibia) from 1992 to 2000, and as an Executive Council Member ofUNESCO from 1993 to 1997. From 2003 to 2006 he was Namibia's Ambassador to the European Union in Brussels, and from 2006 to 2008, Ambassador to Germany. He was appointed as Director-General of the National Planning Commission on 8 April 2008.[3]
Following theNovember 2009 parliamentary election, PresidentHifikepunye Pohamba appointed Katjavivi to the National Assembly as one of the six non-voting members of parliament appointed by the President for the term that began in March 2010.[4] Subsequently, he wasSWAPO's Chief Whip in the National Assembly. He was elected to the National Assembly in theNovember 2014 parliamentary election as aSWAPO candidate.[5] When the National Assembly began sitting for its new term on 20 March 2015, Katjavivi was sworn in as Speaker of Parliament, succeedingTheo-Ben Gurirab.[6][7] In 2016 he was appointedchancellor of theNamibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).[8]
Katjavivi was married to a British womanJane, and has five children. Besides his native Herero, he speaks five other languages.[citation needed]
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