Albert Kawana
{{short description|Namibian politician}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable
| name = Albert Kawana
| honorific-suffix = MP
| image =
| imagesize =
| smallimage =
| caption =
| order =
| office = Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security
| term_start = 22 April 2021
| term_end = 21 March 2025
| president = Hage Geingob
Nangolo Mbumba
| predecessor = Frans Kapofi
| successor =
| office1 = Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources
| term_start1 = 13 November 2019
| term_end1 = 22 April 2021
| president1 = Hage Geingob
| predecessor1 = Bernhard Esau
| successor1 = Derek Klazen
| office2 = Attorney general
| term_start2 = 8 February 2018
| term_end2 = 21 March 2020
| president2 = Hage Geingob
| predecessor2 = Sacky Shanghala
| successor2 = Festus Mbandeka
| office3 = Minister of Justice
| term_start3 = 21 March 2015
| term_end3 = 8 February 2018
| president3 = Hage Geingob
| predecessor3 = Utoni Nujoma
| successor3 = Sacky Shanghala
| term_start4 = 2003
| term_end4 = 2004
| president4 = Sam Nujoma
| predecessor4 = Ngarikutuke Tjiriange
| successor4 = Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana
| office5 = Minister of Presidential Affairs
| term_start5 = 21 March 2005
| term_end5 = 21 March 2015
| president5 = Hifikepunye Pohamba
| successor5 = Frans Kapofi
| predecessor5 =
| office6 = Deputy Minister of Justice
| term_start6 = 2000
| term_end6 = 2003
| president6 = Sam Nujoma
| predecessor6 =
| successor6 =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|03|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Katima Mulilo, South West Africa
| death_date =
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| nationality = Namibian
| spouse =
| relations =
| children =
| residence =
| alma_mater = University of Warwick
| occupation = Lawyer
| profession = Politician
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}}
Albert Kawana (born 26 March 1956) is a Namibian politician. A member of SWAPO, Kawana was a member of the National Assembly and cabinet since 2000 to 21 March 2025. From 22 April 2021 t0 21 March 2025 was a minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security. A lawyer by training, Kawana led Namibia's legal team in the Kasikili Island dispute, which was argued before the International Court of Justice.
Early life and education
Kawana was born on 26 March 1956{{Cite web | url=https://www.parliament.na/dt_team/kawana-albert/ | title=Kawana, Albert | publisher=Government of Namibia | accessdate=16 June 2022}} at Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi Region. He entered Namibian politics while in exile in Zambia. In 1979 he graduated from the United Nations Institute for Namibia (UNIN) with a diploma in Development Studies and Management. He moved on to the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, where he received his L.L.M. in 1983 and Ph.D. in 1988. Following graduation, Kawana moved back to Zambia, where he became a lecturer in the final years of UNIN from 1988 to 1990.
Career
Following Namibia's independence in March 1990, Kawana moved back to Namibia to become the first permanent secretary of the Minister of Justice, where he worked until 2000. Chosen by SWAPO to the third National Assembly in 2000, he immediately was promoted to the position of deputy Minister of Justice. Following the 2004 general election, Kawana was promoted to head the justice ministry, becoming the first permanent secretary to advance to the top post of minister since independence.
Kawana led Namibia's legal team in the Kasikili Island dispute, which was argued before the International Court of Justice. The court eventually sided with Botswana.[http://www.nid.org.na/view_book_entry.php?book_id=93 Albert Kawana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611173830/http://www.nid.org.na/view_book_entry.php?book_id=93 |date=11 June 2011 }} Namibia Institute for Democracy, 2007{{Cite web | title= Nicanor Hilma Ndinelago | publisher = Parliament of Namibia | accessdate=7 March 2018 | url=http://www.parliament.na/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1007:kalbert1-a&catid=104&Itemid=1479}}
In 2005 he became minister for presidential affairs, serving until 2015. Kawana was also included in President Hage Geingob's cabinet, appointed in March 2015, as minister of justice.{{Cite news | title=Geingob announces Cabinet | newspaper=The Namibian | date=20 March 2015 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=134889&page=archive-read}} During a cabinet reshuffle in February 2018, he swapped positions with Sacky Shanghala and became attorney general, also in the rank of a minister.{{Cite news | title=President reshuffles Cabinet—Vice President relieved of duties | last=Matthys | first=Donald | newspaper=Namibia Economist | date=8 February 2018 | url=https://economist.com.na/32603/general-news/president-reshuffles-cabinet-vice-president-relieved-of-duties/}} Kawana became minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources after incumbent Bernhardt Esau resigned in November 2019 in the wake of the Fishrot scandal.{{Cite news | title=Geingob accepts Esau, Shanghala resignations | last=Immanuel | first=Shinovene | newspaper=The Namibian | date=13 November 2019 | url=https://namibian.com.na/geingob-accepts-esau-shanghala-resignations}} In a cabinet reshuffle in April 2021, he was moved to the Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security ministry.{{cite news | title=Geingob shuffles his pack … Kapofi gets defence, Klazen promoted | last=Tjitemisa | first=Kuzeeko | newspaper=New Era | date=22 April 2020 | page=1 | url=https://neweralive.na/posts/geingob-shuffles-his-pack}}
Award
Albert Kawana was awarded The Most Brilliant Order of the Sun second-class for his distinguished service above the call of duty, in August 2024 by President Nangolo Mbumba.{{Cite web |title=President Mbumba confers national honours {{!}} nbc |url=https://www.nbcnews.na/node/107062 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.nbcnews.na}}
References
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Category:People from Katima Mulilo
Category:Members of the National Assembly (Namibia)
Category:Alumni of the University of Warwick
Category:Namibian expatriates in the United Kingdom
Category:Namibian expatriates in Zambia
Category:Justice ministers of Namibia
Category:Attorneys-general of Namibia