Petrus Iilonga
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Petrus Iilonga (b. 8 January 1947 in Etilyasa-Ongandjera, Omusati) is a former Namibian political prisoner, trade union activist and current Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare.
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 favoring of landowners over farm labourers. In 1996, Iilonga received SWAPO's Ongulumbashe Medal for bravery and long service.
[edit] References
- Hopwood, Graham. Guide to Namibian Politics, 2007 edition. Namibia Institute for Democracy, Windhoek, 2007
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