Loide Kasingo

Summary

Loide Lucky Shoopala Kasingo (born 17 February 1954)[1] is a Namibian politician and prominent trade unionist. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Kasingo has been a member of the National Assembly of Namibia since 1996 and was a deputy minister from 1996 to 2005. She has served as Deputy Speaker of Parliament since 2010.

Loide Kasingo
Deputy Speaker of Parliament
Assumed office
21 March 2010
PresidentHifikepunye Pohamba
Hage Geingob
Prime MinisterNahas Angula
Hage Geingob
Saara Kuugongelwa
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs
In office
2000–2005
PresidentSam Nujoma
Prime MinisterHage Geingob
Theo-Ben Gurirab
Deputy Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing
In office
1996–2000
PresidentSam Nujoma
Prime MinisterHage Geingob
Preceded byJerry Ekandjo
Personal details
Born (1954-02-17) 17 February 1954 (age 70)
Oshikoto Region
Political partySWAPO
Alma materUniversity of the North, South Africa

Early life and education edit

Born in Oshikoto Region in 1954, Kasingo studied at Ongwediva High School in Ongwediva in 1971. She then moved on to the University of the North in South Africa, where she graduated from with a Bachelor of Jurisprudence in 1978. After taking various courses in Marketing Management in South Africa from 1983 to 1984, Kasingo was sent to Turin, Italy for training at the International Labour Organization (ILO). In 1987, she earned a diploma in Training Methodology for Trade Union Instructors from the ILO.[1]

Career edit

Kasingo rose to prominence as a key figure in the late 1980s as part of the National Union of Namibian Workers, a SWAPO-affiliated trade union. From 1989 to 1985, she was an adult literacy instructor for the Namibia Literacy Program and the Council of Churches in Namibia. Following independence in 1990, Kasingo continued as a high-level member of NUNW in various functions.[1]

When she was chosen by President Sam Nujoma to replace Ben Ulenga in the National Assembly and as Deputy Minister of Local and Regional Government and Housing. Kasingo was a public prosecutor from 1990 to 1996 for the Ministry of Justice in the Windhoek courts. From 2000 to 2005, she was the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs. Upon the election of Hifikepunye Pohamba in 2004, Kasingo was removed as deputy minister. Despite her demotion, she was ranked eleventh on SWAPO's list of candidates for the National Assembly, virtually guaranteeing her a place on the body, albeit as backbencher.[1]

Kasingo has been Deputy Speaker of Parliament since 2010. She is also Vice-President of the Pan African Parliament since May 2012.[2]

Recognition edit

Kasingo is honorary professor at Jilin University, China, since September 2011.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Loide Kasingo Archived 2011-06-11 at the Wayback Machine at Namibia Institute for Democracy
  2. ^ "Kasingo,elected Vice-President of the Pan African Parliament". Namibian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Honorary professorship conferred on Kasingo". New Era. 15 September 2011.