Charles Namoloh

Major General Charles Dickson Ndaxu Phillip Namoloh (born 28 February 1950) is a Namibian diplomat, politician and military figure who served in the cabinet of Namibia as Minister of Safety and Security from March 2015 to March 2020. Namoloh has been a member of the National Assembly of Namibia since 2005; having served as Minister of Defense from 2005 to 2012[1] and Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development from 2012 to 2015.

Charles Namoloh
Minister of Safety and Security
In office
21 March 2015 – 21 March 2020
Preceded byImmanuel Ngatjizeko
Succeeded byFrans Kapofi
Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development
In office
4 December 2012 – 21 March 2015
Preceded byJerry Ekandjo
Minister of Defence
In office
21 March 2005 – 4 December 2012
Preceded byErkki Nghimtina
Succeeded byNahas Angula
Military Service
Personal details
Born (1950-02-28) 28 February 1950
Odibo, South-West Africa
NationalityNamibian
Political party SWAPO
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionMilitary commander
Military service
Allegiance Namibia
Branch/servicePLAN
Namibian Army
Years of service1974-1995
Rank Major General
Battles/warsNamibian War of Independence Second Congo War

Personal

Namoloh was born on 28 February 1950, in Odibo, Ovamboland (now Ohangwena Region). He attended his primary and secondary education at Oshakati and Tsumeb between 1965 and 1970.[1]

Career

Namoloh entered politics as a union organizer for the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in 1971, in Walvis Bay during the Namibian War of Independence. Temporarily fleeing to southern Angola, Namoloh returned but was arrested in 1973 for pro-SWAPO activities. After spending time in prison, Namoloh was released to Kwanyama (Ovamboland) authorities to receive lashes for supporting SWAPO. Following the decolonization of Angola in 1974 and the Carnation Revolution in Portugal, Namoloh fled with other SWAPO Party Youth League members through Angola to SWAPO bases in Zambia. Rising quickly through the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), Namoloh became the chief of staff of Dimo Hamaambo in 1979. He fought under the nom de guerre "Ho Chi Minh".[1]

Namoloh helped establish the Namibian Defence Force following independence in 1990 and was given the rank of Major General and appointed as NDF Chief of Staff in the office of the Chief of Defence between 1990 to 1995. In 1995, Namoloh was sent to Angola as Namibia's representative. In 2003, the former PLAN commander was sent to New Delhi, India as Namibia's top diplomat in that country.

Namoloh returned home in 2005 to be selected for the National Assembly and appointed as Minister of Defense. Following the fifth SWAPO congress at the end of November 2012, a Cabinet reshuffle occurred on 4 December 2012, in which Namoloh was deployed as Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, succeeding Jerry Ekandjo. Former Prime Minister Nahas Angula took over Namoloh's Defence portfolio.[2]

Under President Hage Geingob, Namoloh was moved to the post of Minister of Safety and Security in March 2015.[3]

Military offices
Preceded by
Vacant		 NDF Chief of Staff
1990 – 1995		 Succeeded by
Martin Shalli

References
  1. "Hopwood, Graham. Guide to Namibian Politics, 2007 edition. Namibia Institute for Democracy, Windhoek, 2007". Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
  2. Shipanga, Selma; Immanuel, Shinovene (5 December 2012). "Transition team picked". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 2012-12-06. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  3. "Geingob announces Cabinet". The Namibian. 20 March 2015.
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