Andimba Toivo ya Toivo
Encyclopedia
Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo (born 22 August 1924) is a Namibia
n politician who was active in the independence movement. He was a founding member of the Ovamboland People's Congress (OPC) in 1957, at the beginning of the independence movement.
Toivo was born in Omangundu in Oshana Region in the north of Namibia. Toivo ya Toivo fought for the Allied Forces
during World War II
. Later, because of his political activities in support of Namibian independence, he was arrested in 1966 by the South African authorities. On January 26, 1968 he was sentenced by a Pretoria
n court to 20 years' imprisonment. He was incarcerated at Robben Island
, near Cape Town
, where he spend most of his time isolated from his fellow countrymen. Ya Toivo was released on 1 March 1984.
From 1984 to 1991, he was the Secretary General of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO).
Toivo was a SWAPO member of the Constituent Assembly, which was in place from November 1989 to March 1990, immediately prior to independence, and upon independence in March 1990 he became a member of the National Assembly. He was also Minister of Mines and Energy from 1990 until his appointment as Minister of Labour on March 26, 1999. After over three years in that position, he was appointed as Minister of Prisons on August 27, 2002, switching posts with Marco Hausiku
; he remained Minister of Prisons until 2006.
He chose to not to run for a seat in the National Assembly again at the time of the 2004 election
, saying that he had "done enough".
Toivo received the eleventh most votes—358—in the election to the Central Committee of SWAPO at the party's August 2002 congress. At SWAPO's November 2007 congress, Toivo failed to be elected to the SWAPO Politburo for the first time in the party's history. This was attributed to Toivo's purported link to the opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress
(RDP), a party that had been founded as a split from SWAPO shortly before the congress. Toivo denied being linked to the RDP, but the claim was believed to have influenced the vote.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n politician who was active in the independence movement. He was a founding member of the Ovamboland People's Congress (OPC) in 1957, at the beginning of the independence movement.
Toivo was born in Omangundu in Oshana Region in the north of Namibia. Toivo ya Toivo fought for the Allied Forces
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Later, because of his political activities in support of Namibian independence, he was arrested in 1966 by the South African authorities. On January 26, 1968 he was sentenced by a Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
n court to 20 years' imprisonment. He was incarcerated at Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
, near Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, where he spend most of his time isolated from his fellow countrymen. Ya Toivo was released on 1 March 1984.
From 1984 to 1991, he was the Secretary General of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO).
Toivo was a SWAPO member of the Constituent Assembly, which was in place from November 1989 to March 1990, immediately prior to independence, and upon independence in March 1990 he became a member of the National Assembly. He was also Minister of Mines and Energy from 1990 until his appointment as Minister of Labour on March 26, 1999. After over three years in that position, he was appointed as Minister of Prisons on August 27, 2002, switching posts with Marco Hausiku
Marco Hausiku
Marco Mukoso Hausiku is a Namibian politician. Previously serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Mr. Hausiku now serves as the Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia,.Hausiku was born in Kapako, Okavango Region...
; he remained Minister of Prisons until 2006.
He chose to not to run for a seat in the National Assembly again at the time of the 2004 election
Namibian parliamentary election, 2004
General elections were held in Namibia on 15 and 16 November 2004 to elect the President and National Assembly. The National Assembly election resulted in a landslide win for SWAPO, which won 55 of the 78 seats with over 75% of the vote. SWAPO's candidate for president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, won the...
, saying that he had "done enough".
Toivo received the eleventh most votes—358—in the election to the Central Committee of SWAPO at the party's August 2002 congress. At SWAPO's November 2007 congress, Toivo failed to be elected to the SWAPO Politburo for the first time in the party's history. This was attributed to Toivo's purported link to the opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress
Rally for Democracy and Progress (Namibia)
The Rally for Democracy and Progress is an opposition political party in Namibia. It was launched on November 17 2007 under the leadership of Hidipo Hamutenya and Jesaya Nyamu, both former leading members of the ruling SWAPO party and cabinet ministers. Hamutenya had unsuccessfully sought the SWAPO...
(RDP), a party that had been founded as a split from SWAPO shortly before the congress. Toivo denied being linked to the RDP, but the claim was believed to have influenced the vote.