- John Pandeni
John Alphons Pandeni (
30 July 1950 -14 March 2008 ) was aNamibia n politician and trade unionist. A member ofSWAPO , Pandeni wasMinister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development at the time of his death.After receiving military training in
Tanzania andAngola , Pandeni was arrested in 1978 for anti-apartheid military activities with SWAPO's military wing, thePeople's Liberation Army of Namibia . Following his arrest, Pandeni was imprisoned onRobben Island until 1985. After his release, Pandeni became the founding Secretary of theNamibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau) until 1992. In that year he entered politics, serving as Regional Councillor for Soweto constituency inKatutura ,Windhoek . A year later he became the Khomas Regional Governor until 2005 when he entered PresidentHifikepunye Pohamba 's first cabinet. He was a distant relative of fellow Robben Island prisoner turned SWAPO politicianPetrus Iilonga [ [http://allafrica.com/stories/200803200359.html Pandeni Was a Born Leader - Iilonga] ] Pandeni is buried alongside other former liberation leaders at Heroes Acre, outside ofWindhoek .References
* Hopwood, Graham. Guide to Namibian Politics, 2007 edition.
Namibia Institute for Democracy ,Windhoek , 2007
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