David Namwandi


David R. Namwandi is a Namibian politician and academic, who served as the Minister of Education from 2013 to 2015. Namwandi previously served as Deputy Minister of Education from 2010 to 2013. He is a member of SWAPO, Namibia's ruling party.

Biography

Namwandi was born at Okapya in Ondangwa, Oshana Region, Namibia.

Education

Namwandi is a professor in the discipline of Management from The Cyprus Institute of Marketing. He holds various professional and academic qualifications from Africa, Europe and Asia, an MBA, a Doctoral Award as well as a PhD in Business Administration from Asia e University - Malaysia. He is the founder of the International University of Management, the first private university in Namibia.

Career

Until 21 March 2010, when he was elected a member of National Assembly and appointed Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Namibia. He served as Member of Parliament and Minister of Education in the Republic of Namibia since 21 February 2013 until 21 March 2015.
He served as a chairperson and a board member of more than 12 companies and Institutions such as Trustco Group International Holdings Ltd a listed company on Namibian stock Exchange and recently listed on Africa board of Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Namibia Qualifications Authority. National Council of Higher Education as a Chairperson of Accreditation and Quality Assurance Committee.
Vice Chancellors and Rectors Forum as its first Vice Chairperson.
He is the owner and current Group Chairman of Onambambi Holdings Ltd Namibia, which has subsidiary companies venturing into transport, properties, investments, fishing, hospitality, security services and farming.
He is the founder of the first privately owned university, The International University of Management, an accredited private university by Namibia Qualification Authority. He served as its chairman and vice chancellor until his appointment to Cabinet as Deputy Minister of Education by H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba in 2010 under a SWAPO Party mandate.
He is a recipient of an International Award for outstanding contribution to Education from Central Bank of India, 2012.
Namwandi is also a recipient of an International B-School Leadership i.e. Educational Excellence Award from Le Matinal, Mauritius, 2011 He was awarded the Education Leadership Award at the World Marketing Summit in 2013, Malaysia. He is a recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award from Chartered Institute of Management Accountants during the World Education Congress on 23 July 2015 in Mumbai, India.
In 2017, Namwandi was inducted into the Namibian Hall of Fame.