Geingob accepts Hanse-Himarwa resignation

WINDHOEK, JULY 9 – President Hage Geingob would have been left with no choice but to fire former Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Katrina Hanse-Himarwa following her guilty verdict, according to a statement from the Namibian Presidency issued today.

Hanse-Himarwa resigned from her duties earlier today and President Geingob accepted her resignation.

“The President of the Republic of Namibia accepted today, 9 July 2019 the resignation of the Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Honourable Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, following the guilty verdict yesterday, 8 July on charges of corruptly using her office or position to obtain gratification. The charge emanates from her actions during her tenure as Governor of the Hardap Region in 2014,” read the statement.

President Geingob is always advocating for processes, systems and institutions in the Namibian Governance architecture, said the statement.

The High Court’s guilty verdict meant only one outcome for Hanse-Himarwa.

Better times: Pepper the robot posed with then Minister of Education Arts and Culture Katrina Hanse Himarwa During the launch of Namibia’s 11th Career Expo on 21 May 2019 at the Windhoek Country Club. Today, 9 July 2019, Hanse-Himarwa tendered her resignation letter which President Hage Geingob has accepted.

“With the guilty verdict by the High Court of the Republic of Namibia, and in line with the expressed commitment by President Geingob to transparency and the fight against corruption, the Head of State would have been left with no option but to relieve Hnourable Katrina Hanse-Himarwa of her Ministerial responsibilities. It is in that light that President Geingob accepts the resignation of Honourable Katrina Hanse-Himarwa as Minister of Education, Arts and Culture.” ~ Namibian Presidency

Geingob commended Hanse-Himarwa for the decision she took described in the statement as “accepting to live up to her responsibility by respecting the rule of law and the institutions of the Republic of Namibia.”

The high court on Monday found Hanse-Himarwa guilty of corruption and corruptly using her office for gratification after using her former position as Hardap governor in 2014, when she placed some of her relatives on a list of housing beneficiaries under the country’s mass housing initiative.

– musa@namibiadailynews.info