Kalumbi Shangula
{{Short description|Namibian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Kalumbi Shangula
| image = Kalumbi Shangula (cropped).jpg
| office = Minister of Health and Social Services
| president = Hage Geingob
| term_start = 20 December 2018
| term_end = 21 March 2025
| predecessor = Bernard Haufiku
| successor =
| birth_date = 8 August 1948
| birth_place = Etilyasa, Omusati Region
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = SWAPO
| spouse = Elizabeth Hinananye Shangula
| alma_mater =
| profession = Medical doctor, Politician
}}
Kalumbi Shangula (born 8 August 1948) is a Namibian doctor and politician from the SWAPO Party. He was a minister of Health and Social Services from 19 December 2018 to 21 March 2025.
Early life and education
Shangula was born as third of ten children on 8 August in Etilyasa in what is today Omusati Region. He completed matric at Ongwediva High School. His tertiary degrees are a diploma in public health from Harvard University and a MSc in medicine from University of London, an MD from Moscow, and an MBA from Maastricht.{{Cite news | title=At home with Dr Kalumbi Shangula - Shangula shares his love for sport | last=Siririka | first=Paheja | newspaper=New Era | date=29 January 2021 | url=https://neweralive.na/posts/shangula-shares-his-love-for-sport}}{{Cite web | title=Managements: Ministry of Health & Social Services | publisher=Government of Namibia | accessdate=29 March 2022 | url=https://mhss.gov.na/management}}
Career
After graduation Shangula worked as a medical officer, first as intern, then as health officer, superintendent, and regional health director. During the armed fight for Namibian independence Shangula rose to be chief of medical services at the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). After independence he ran his own medical practice before taking up an academic career at the University of Namibia. His last position there was assistant pro-vice chancellor.
Already a member of SWAPO{{Cite web|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?page=read&id=74268|title=Shangula sworn in as MP|last=|first=|date=|website=The Namibian|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2018-12-25}} Shangula then entered into politics, becoming permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Until 2017, Shangula also served as managing director of SWAPO's own group Kalahari Holdings.{{Cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2014-09-18-diamonds-are-swapos-best-friends/|title=Diamonds are Swapo's best friends|last=Immanuel|first=Shinovene|date=2014-09-18|website=The Mail & Guardian|language=en-ZA|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-29}} Shangula entered Parliament in December 2018 on an appointment by president Hage Geingob. He immediately assumed the position of minister of Health and Social Services, replacing Bernard Haufiku.{{Cite web|url=https://informante.web.na/2018/12/19/dr-kalumbi-shangula-appointed-as-new-health-minister/|title=Dr. Kalumbi Shangula appointed as new health minister|last=Steyn|first=Riaan|date=2018-12-19|website=Informanté|language=en-ZA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226084308/https://informante.web.na/2018/12/19/dr-kalumbi-shangula-appointed-as-new-health-minister/|archive-date=26 December 2018|access-date=2018-12-25|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web | title= Shangula, Kalumbi | publisher = Parliament of Namibia | accessdate=29 March 2022 | url=https://www.parliament.na/dt_team/shangula-kalumbi/}}
As health minister, Shangula led Namibia's COVID-19 response, ordering a travel ban and partial lockdown in March 2020.{{cite news |last1=Nyaungwa |first1=Nyasha |title=Namibia announces travel ban, partial lockdown after seventh coronavirus case |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-namibia/namibia-announces-travel-ban-partial-lockdown-after-seventh-coronavirus-case-idUSKBN21B30R |accessdate=29 March 2020 |work=Reuters |date=24 March 2020}}
Personal life
Shangula was married to the Namibian pathologist Elizabeth Hinananye Shangula from July 28, 1981, until her death in 2008.{{Cite web|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?page=archive-read&id=48549|title=Exile doctor passes on|last=|first=|date=|website=The Namibian|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2018-12-25}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shangula, Kalumbi}}
Category:Health and social services ministers of Namibia
Category:Members of the National Assembly (Namibia)
Category:Alumni of the University of London
Category:Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health alumni
Category:Academic staff of the University of Namibia
Category:People from Omusati Region