Engel Nawatiseb Explained

Engel Nawatiseb
Birth Date:20 June 1969
Birth Place:Oshikoto Region, Namibia
Office:Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology
Term Start:2018
Term End:2020
President:Hage Geingob
Primeminister:Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
Successor:Emma Theofilus
Office1:Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises
Term Start1:2015
Term End1:2018
President1:Hage Geingob
Primeminister1:Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
Office2:Member of the National Assembly
Term Start2:20 March 2015
Term End2:20 March 2020
Party:South West African People's Organization (2015–2024)
(Since 2024)
Otherparty:Landless People's Movement (2024)

Engelbrecht A. Nawatiseb (born 20 June 1969) is a Namibian politician. A member of the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO), he served as a member of the National Assembly from 2015 to 2020. While serving in the National Assembly, he held offices as Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises from 2015 to 2018 and as Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology from 2018 to 2020.[1] Prior to his career in politics, he attended and graduated from Otjikoto Secondary School and served as a road contractor. His membership in SWAPO was briefly interrupted for about a month in 2024, when he left SWAPO to join the Landless People's Movement (LPM).[2] This decision came after Nawatiseb made calls for younger leadership within SWAPO.[3] Nawatiseb later quickly abandoned the party to rejoin SWAPO.

Nawatiseb began to suffer from kidney failure in 2021; he later praised private dialysis centres for providing care for his condition.[4] In 2024, the Namibian Government sued Nawatiseb for his refusal to pay an unused travel allowance from a cancelled trip to Spain, as well as for salary overpayment.[5] [6] Nawatiseb faced controversy the same year when a video of him slapping a bartender in Tsumeb was circulated online. Nawatiseb defended his actions, stating that the bar was causing noise pollution. This claim was disputed by the bartender.[7] The video was criticised by members of the Popular Democratic Movement, to which Nawatiseb responded by describing the PDM as a "total reject in Tsumeb".[8] In 2024, Nawatiseb was accused of "orchestrating a scheme" and "rushing" to sell a house before a bank he was affiliated with was to be liquidated.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: !Nawatiseb, Engelbrecht A. . parliament.na . 9 September 2024.
  2. News: Hamalwa . Festus . Nawatiseb makes U-turn on LPM . 11 September 2024 . New Era Live.
  3. News: Amutenja . Hertta-Maria . FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER NAWATISEB LEAVES SWAPO TO JOIN LPM . 11 September 2024 . Windhoek Observer.
  4. News: Hiveluah . Feni . Former MP commends private dialysis centres amid Govt shortcomings . 27 September 2024 . The Namibian.
  5. News: Namibia: Govt Sues Ex-Deputy Minister Over Travel Allowance . 9 September 2024 . AllAfrica.
  6. Web site: S&T funds of a cancelled trip haunt former Information Minister Nawatiseb . All Namibian News . 11 September 2024.
  7. News: BARTENDER RECALLS SLAP FROM EX-DEPUTY MINISTER. Namibian Sun . 11 September 2024 . 20 June 2024 .
  8. News: Matthys . Donald . Former deputy minister defends slapping bar lady . 11 September 2024 . The Namibian.
  9. News: Smith . Sonja . Pensioner could lose house as liquidators chase Nawatiseb . 8 November 2024 . The Namibian.