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Katrina Hanse-Himarwa
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|---|---|
| Minister of Education, Arts and Culture | |
| In office 21 March 2015 – 9 July 2019 | |
| President | Hage Geingob |
| Prime Minister | Saara Kuugongelwa |
| Preceded by | David Namwandi |
| Succeeded by | Martin Andjaba |
| Governor of Hardap Region | |
| In office 2004 – 20 March 2015 | |
| President | Hifikepunye Pohamba |
| Prime Minister | Nahas Angula Hage Geingob |
| Succeeded by | Esme Sophia Isaack |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1967-01-22)22 January 1967 Hoachanas, South West Africa (now Namibia) |
| Died | 14 July 2024(2024-07-14) (aged 57) Windhoek, Namibia |
| Political party | SWAPO |
| Occupation | Teacher |
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Katrina Hanse-Himarwa (22 January 1967 – 14 July 2024) was a Namibian politician. A member of the SWAPO party, she served as Minister of Education, Arts and Culture from 21 March 2015 to 9 July 2019, resigning a day after being convicted of corruption.
Hanse-Himarwa was a teacher by profession. She held a Basic Education Teacher's Diploma (BETD) obtained in 1995 and a Bachelor in Education Management Technology obtained in 1999. She began working as teacher and school principal in 1987.[1]
After winning the Mariental Rural constituency in the 2004 local elections for the SWAPO party she was appointed governor of Hardap Region, a position she held until 2015.[1] Hanse-Himarwa was one of the eight presidential appointees to the 6th National Assembly of Namibia to become a non-voting member of the body.[2] President Hage Geingob appointed her minister of Education, Arts and Culture on 21 March 2015.[3]
In July 2019, Hanse-Himarwa was found guilty of corruption and lying under oath. Judge Christie Liebenberg at the Windhoek High Court found that she had used her office for self-gratification while she served as governor of Hardap Region to remove listed names on a national housing project in order to favour one of her relatives. She was represented by lawyer Sisa Namandje who was not present during the delivery of the verdict.[4][5]
A day after the verdict on 9 July 2019, Hanse-Himarwa resigned from her position as minister of education.[6] Martin Andjaba succeeded her in an acting position because the next parliamentary election was only months away.[7] Hanse-Himarwa was sentenced to a fine of N$50 000 on 31 July 2019 at the Windhoek High Court, becoming the third high-ranking member of the SWAPO Party since Tobie Aupindi and Marina Kandumbu to be sentenced. She retained her seat in parliament.[8][9]
Hanse-Himarwa died from cancer on 14 July 2024, at the age of 57.[10]
Hanse-Himarwa was conferred the Most Distinguished Order of Namibia: First ClassonHeroes' Day 2014.[11]
