Helmut Kangulohi Angula is a Namibian businessman, politician and former cabinet minister. He is currently the director of various private companies, after leaving government in 2010, and a longtime member of the central committee and the politburo of the ruling SWAPO party.
Biography
Angula was born in Ontananga, Oshikoto Region, and joined SWAPO in 1963, just three years after the movement's founding. Angula holds a M.S.C Degree from Voronezh State University. During his time with SWAPO, Angula served as the Deputy Principal of the Health and Education Center in Nyango, Zambia from 1975–1976 and then graduated to a Director of the center until 1977. From 1977- 1986 he acted as the Chief Representative to Cuba, the Caribbean and Latin America, and from 1986 to 1989 served as the SWAPO Permanent Observer at the United Nations in New York and the Chief Representative to North America. He was elected to the National Assembly of Namibia in 1990 and served in the Cabinet as Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy from 1990 to 1991, as Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources from 1991 to 1995, as Minister of Finance from 1995 to 1996 and as Minister of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development from 1996-2004. In 2005 Angula was appointed Director General of the National Planning Commission, where he was responsible for negotiating the Namibia- US Millennium Challenge Account Agreement worth $380 million US and supported programs implemented by US/Namibian Governments in the education, environment and agricultural sectors. He was also responsible for negotiating with the World Bank and Education and Training Sector Improvement Programs "ETSIP" Agreement. A vacancy that occurred on the SWAPO list in November 2007 opened up a SWAPO seat in the National Assembly, and Angula was subsequently sworn in as a Member of Parliamentat the beginning of a parliamentary session on 22 November 2007. In April 2008, he was appointed as Minister of Works and Transports, he held this position until March 2010. Since leaving the Government, Angula has sat on the board of the following companies: Julius Klein Diamond Cutting and Polishing, Dynamo Diamond HK Transkunene Consulting Services and Associates, Halle Investment Number 370, Alcon Consulting, East Gate Properties, Onyuulaye Trading and Investment, and proposed Goldbard Capital Corporation. Angula is currently a member of the Central Committee and the Political Bureau of the ruling SWAPO Party and Secretary for the Department of Transportation. Angula was not re-elected to the National Assembly in the November 2009 parliamentary election, and instead pursued a career in business. On Heroes' Day 2014 he was conferred the Most Brilliant Order of the Sun, Second Class.
