Ignatius Shixwameni

Ignatius Nkotongo Shixwameni (born 4 September 1966) is a Namibian politician.[1] He is the leader of the All People's Party.

Contents

Early life and education

Shixwameni was born in Utokota in the Shambyu traditional kingdom in the Kavango Region,[1] and he earned a Master's of Arts degree from the University of Havana in Social Sciences.

Political career

Shixwameni was a SWAPO Youth League leader from 1987 to 1999 and a SWAPO Central Committee member from 1992 to 1997. Elected to Parliament in 1999 as a member of SWAPO, he joined the opposition Congress of Democrats (CoD) in 2000 as their chief whip.

2007-08 controversy

Shixwameni resigned from the CoD in December 2007 along with 21 other members.[2] He founded a new party, the All People's Party, as a split from the CoD the next month. In October 2009, the APP selected him as the party's candidate for President.

References

  1. ^ a b Official government biography National Assembly of Namibia
  2. ^ Shixwameni, 21 others quit CoD The Namibian, 17 December, 2007