Petrus Iilonga

Petrus Iilonga

Petrus Iilonga (b. 8 January, 1947 in Etilyasa-Ongandjera, Omusati) is a former Namibian political prisoner, trade union leader and politician. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Iilonga has been the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare since his appointment in 2000.

Iilonga received military training in Tanzania and Soviet Union from 1974-1976, after which he returned home to Namibia to fight in the Namibian War of Independence. He was imprisoned on Robben Island from 1978 until his release in 1985. After his release, Iilonga began mobilizing workers under the National Union of Namibian Workers. He served as Secretary General of the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) from 1988-2000. He left Napwu in order to become Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism under Sam Nujoma. He has been a member of the National Assembly since 1995. Despite holding his position as Deputy Minister, he is a vocal critic of government labor policy, including the perceived favouring of landowners over farm labourers. In 1996, Iilonga received Namibia's Ongulumbashe Medal for bravery and long service. In a 2008 belated Heroes Day speech, Iilonga criticized the newly formed opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress for alleged tribalism. In the same speech in Keetmanshoop, the Deputy Minister said that SWAPO did not support opposition parties. [ [http://www.namibian.com.na/2008/September/national/082702FDA8.html Rally for Democracy and Progress splits nation: Iilonga] in The Namibian, 8 September, 2008]

References

* Hopwood, Graham. Guide to Namibian Politics, 2007 edition. Namibia Institute for Democracy, Windhoek, 2007


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