Hans Erik Staby (8 September 1935 in Otjimbingwe, Erongo Region - 30 November 2009) was a Namibian politician and one of the country's leading architects. A German Namibian, Staby was a member of the National Assembly of Namibia from the Constituent Assembly prior to independence in 1989 until resignation in 1997 with the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance.[1] Staby died on 30 November 2009 at his home in Windhoek.[2]
He was elected to the White Legislative Assembly in 1980 as a member of the RP, which was then part of the DTA. He served in newly independent Namibia's Constituent Assembly in 1990 and was the DTA spokesperson on trade and finance in the NA from 1990 to 1997. In November 2003 he joined Action for Democratic Change – a group of former RP members who decided to stay with the DTA rather than join the breakaway led by Henk Mudge.
Described as a "true Namibian" by the executive director of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, Henning Melber, Staby worked tirelessly for the promotion of democracy and human rights in Namibia.[3] As an architect, whose profession was almost as meaningful to him as his family and Namibia, he continued to add value to the country and refused to compromise for short-term gains. As late as this year he refused to award a sub-tender as part of a public works project to the cheapest bidder. He dismissed the order to do so since this would have meant that no Namibians would have been employed. He rather preferred to have the tender withdrawn than to compromise and give in for his own material gains.[4]
Staby was the Chairperson of the Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID) and of the Namibian-German Foundation. He was also a member of the Namibian branch of the anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International (TI). He was the President of the Namibia Cricket Board (NCB) from 1986 to 1999 and Patron of the NCB from 2000 to 2003. Staby made a valid and tremendous impact on the development of cricket in Namibia. He was a gifted speaker and was able to relate and recall many stories on the early days of cricket in Namibia. He played league cricket for Wanderers Cricket Club and after retiring from the game became the club’s and national team cricket scorer. He subsequently became President of Wanderers Cricket Club and was responsible for building a successful and popular club with not only wonderful cricket but squash, hockey and rugby facilities. After standing down as president Hans-Erik Staby was bestowed as an Honourary member of Cricket Namibia.[5]
Survivors include his wife, brother, two sisters, four sons and 11 grand-children.[6]
Staby obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree, University of Cape Town, South Africa (1959) and enlisted with the Technische Universität, Berlin, West Germany (1960) for post-graduate studies.
Owner of Stauch & Partners (architectural company) in Windhoek since 1992. Member of the National Assembly (1990–97). Member of Constituent Assembly (1989–90). Partner in Stauch & Partners (1968–92). Member of NA under the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNU) (1985–89). Member of White Legislative Assembly (1980–88). Worked for Stauch & Partners as architect (1964–68). Worked for Field, Munro & Forsyth architects (1963). Design architect at Doormann & Niemeyer, Kiel, West Germany (1960–62).