Katrina Hanse-Himarwa

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.

Professional career

Hanse-Himarwa was born on 22 January 1967 in Hoachanas. She started working as a teacher in 1987 and later became head of department and principal. 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.

Political career

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. President Hage Geingob appointed her minister of Education, Arts and Culture on 21 March 2015.

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 a lawyer, Sisa Namandje, who was not present during the delivery of the verdict.

A day after the verdict on 9 July 2019, Hanse-Himarwa resigned from her position as minister of education. Martin Andjaba succeeded her in an acting position because the next parliamentary election was only months away. 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.

Death

Hanse-Himarwa died from cancer on 14 July 2024, at the age of 57. She received an official funeral from President Nangolo Mbumba and was buried in Mariental.

Recognition

Hanse-Himarwa was conferred the Most Distinguished Order of Namibia: First Class on Heroes' Day 2014.