Michael Hishikushitja
Encyclopedia
Michael Ndapamapedu Hishikushitja (22 November 1953 – 27 September 2001) was a Namibia
n parliamentarian.
Hishikushitja was born and grew up in Onamunama, close to the Angola
n border in the Ohangwena Region
of Namibia. In the 1970s he attended school at St Mary Mission School in Odibo, where he later also worked as teacher until it was closed in 1979. He spied for the People's Liberation Army of Namibia
, the armed wing of SWAPO, and assisted people wanting to cross the border to Angola.
In 1979 he took up a position as an English teacher in Engela for the Council of Churches in Namibia
. When his political involvement became known to the South Africa
n administration, he was forced to move to Windhoek
. The Anglican Church sent him into British exile where he completed a Master's degree in education.
After Namibian independence
Michael Hishikushitja was elected Regional Councillor of the Oshikango Constituency
, a position he held until he died. When the National Council of Namibia
was formed in 1993, he was one of the Regional Councillors to be elected to serve. He was vice chairperson of the first National Council, and SWAPO Chief Whip
of the second. He also was a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
, and the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs.
Hishikushitja was married with two daughters. He died from a heart attack shortly before his 48th birthday. Sam Nujoma
, then President of the Republic of Namibia, spoke at his funeral, calling him "one of [Namibia's] most active and effective young Parliamentarians.”
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 parliamentarian.
Hishikushitja was born and grew up in Onamunama, close to the Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n border in the Ohangwena Region
Ohangwena Region
Ohangwena is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. The northern and western parts of the region are the most densely populated of this essentially subsistence agricultural region in which small scale mahangu cultivation and the keeping of cattle form the predominant activities...
of Namibia. In the 1970s he attended school at St Mary Mission School in Odibo, where he later also worked as teacher until it was closed in 1979. He spied for the People's Liberation Army of Namibia
People's Liberation Army of Namibia
The People's Liberation Army of Namibia was the active military wing of the South West Africa People's Organization during the Namibian War of Independence. It sought independence for the territory from South African rule. PLAN launched its first attack on the South African military at...
, the armed wing of SWAPO, and assisted people wanting to cross the border to Angola.
In 1979 he took up a position as an English teacher in Engela for the Council of Churches in Namibia
Council of Churches in Namibia
The Council of Churches in Namibia is a Namibian ecumenical body which deals with religious, educational and social matters. Formed in 1978, it spoke against apartheid and the South African occupation of Namibia...
. When his political involvement became known to the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n administration, he was forced to move to Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
. The Anglican Church sent him into British exile where he completed a Master's degree in education.
After Namibian independence
Namibian War of Independence
See also South African Border War.The Namibian War of Independence, also known as the South African Border War, which lasted from 1966 to 1988, was a guerrilla war, which the nationalist South-West Africa People's Organization and others, fought against the apartheid government in South...
Michael Hishikushitja was elected Regional Councillor of the Oshikango Constituency
Oshikango Constituency
Oshikango is a constituency in the Ohangwena Region of Namibia, on the border to Angola. It has 27,599 inhabitants, the district centre is the village of Oshikango....
, a position he held until he died. When the National Council of Namibia
National Council of Namibia
The National Council of Namibia is the upper chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament.The 26 National Council members are chosen by regional councils, which are directly elected for a term of six-years. Each of the 13 regional councils chooses two of its members to serve on the National Council...
was formed in 1993, he was one of the Regional Councillors to be elected to serve. He was vice chairperson of the first National Council, and SWAPO Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
of the second. He also was a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, previously known as the Empire Parliamentary Association, is an organisation, of British origin, which works to support good governance, democracy and human rights...
, and the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs.
Hishikushitja was married with two daughters. He died from a heart attack shortly before his 48th birthday. Sam Nujoma
Sam Nujoma
Samuel Daniel Shafiishuna Nujoma is a Namibian politician who was the first President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005. He led the South-West Africa People's Organisation in its long struggle against South African rule and took office as President when Namibia obtained independence on 21 March 1990...
, then President of the Republic of Namibia, spoke at his funeral, calling him "one of [Namibia's] most active and effective young Parliamentarians.”