Andreas Shipanga
| Andreas Shipanga | |
|---|---|
| President of SWAPO Democrats | |
|
In office 1978–1991 |
|
| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | position demolished |
| Chairman of the Transitional Government of National Unity | |
|
In office 1987–1988 |
|
| Preceded by | Dirk Mudge |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Matjila |
| Minister of Nature Conservation, Mining, Commerce and Tourism | |
|
In office 1 February 1987 – December 1988 |
|
| SWAPO Secretary for Information and Publicity | |
|
In office 1970–1976 |
|
| President | Sam Nujoma |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
26 October 1931 Ondangwa, Ovamboland Southwest Africa |
| Died | 10 May 2012 (aged 80) |
| Political party |
SWAPO (1957-1976) SWAPO Democrats (1976-1991) |
| Spouse(s) | Esme (Married 1965) |
Andreas Zack Shipanga (26 October 1931 – 10 May 2012) was a Namibian politician known for the "Shipanga Rebellion", a movement within SWAPO that sought to elect a new leadership and whose followers were in response detained without trial. Imprisoned for two years following this fall-out, Shipanga was arrested and held in detention in Zambia then Tanzania until 1978. After his release from prison he founded the opposing SWAPO Democrats and served as minister in different portfolios in the Transitional Government of National Unity, the interim government of South-West Africa directly before Namibian independence.
Shipanga was born on 26 October 1931 in Ondangwa, Ovamboland. He obtained a Teacher's Training Certificate at Ongwediva in 1952. Soon after graduation he travelled abroad in search of further education which was not possible for Blacks after 1948. The National Party had won the 1948 election in South Africa, subsequently apartheid legislation was introduced. He first stayed in Angola, then moved on to South Africa, and from there to South Rhodesia.
Having read about Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and Fillemon Mifima preparing the foundation of a political party in support of Namibian independence, Shipanga traveled to Cape Town to join the group in 1957. He became one of the co-founders of the Ovamboland People's Congress, the predecessor of OPO and SWAPO.
Shipanga returned to South-West Africa in 1960 and went into exile in 1963 where he helped established several SWAPO offices and military training camps. He was SWAPO's representative in Kinshasa, Zaire and then Cairo, Egypt from 1964-69. While in Egypt, he got married to his wife Esmé. Following his stint as diplomat, He became the SWAPO Secretary for Information and Publicity from 1970 until 1976.
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