Tom Alweendo

Thomas Kavaningilamo Alweendo (born 17 March 1958 in Omusheshe, Oshana Region) is a Namibian politician who served as a Minister of Mines and Energy from 8 February 2018 to 21 March 2025. In 1997, he became the first Namibian Governor of the Bank of Namibia when he replaced Jafaar bin Ahmad of Malaysia.

In 2010, Alweendo was appointed to lead the National Planning Commission. When Hage Geingob took office as president in March 2015, he confirmed Alweendo in his position. In a cabinet reshuffle in February 2018, Alweendo became Minister of Mines and Energy, swapping positions with Obeth Kandjoze.

Education

Alweendo earned a bachelor's degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom.

As governor of the Bank of Namibia, he maintained the Namibian dollar's linkage with the South African rand. He also raised concerns about increasing amounts of government debt and questioned whether expenditures on education produced better results.