Bernhardt Esau
Encyclopedia
Bernhardt Esau is a Namibia
n politician. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization, Esau has been a member of the National Assembly
since being chosen by President Sam Nujoma
in 1995. He has also been the Deputy Ministry of Trade and Industry since 1999.
on 9 December 1957. He earned his matric at St. Josephs Training College in Dobra in 1977 and graduated from the University of Fort Hare
in 1984. Esau rose through the Mineworkers Union of Namibia
to become secretary general of the umbrella National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) in 1991. In 1992, during a time of debate concerning the role of Namibia's trade unions, Esau favored maintaining an alliance with SWAPO. However, Esau later in 1994 suggested that the trade unions could form their own political party if worker's rights continued to be ignored by the SWAPO government. In the same year, the Swakopmund native was placed on the National Assembly list for SWAPO and was voted into the National Assembly in elections the next year. Esau was a member of the politburo
of SWAPO from 1991-1997 and the Central Committee of his party since 1991. As Deputy Minister, Esau had to support liberal economic policies, including the setting up of export processing zones in Namibia where labour laws do not apply.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n politician. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization, Esau has been a member of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Namibia
The National Assembly of Namibia is the lower chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament. It has a total of 78 members. 72 members are directly elected through a system of party-list proportional representation and serve five-year terms. Six additional members are appointed by the President.The...
since being chosen by President Sam Nujoma
Sam Nujoma
Samuel Daniel Shafiishuna Nujoma is a Namibian politician who was the first President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005. He led the South-West Africa People's Organisation in its long struggle against South African rule and took office as President when Namibia obtained independence on 21 March 1990...
in 1995. He has also been the Deputy Ministry of Trade and Industry since 1999.
Career
Esau was born in Swakopmund, Erongo RegionErongo Region
Erongo is one of the 13 regions of Namibia. It comprises the Swakopmund magisterial district up to the Ugab River and includes Walvis Bay, Omaruru and Karibib magisterial districts. This region is named after Erongo mountain, a well known landmark in Namibia and in this area...
on 9 December 1957. He earned his matric at St. Josephs Training College in Dobra in 1977 and graduated from the University of Fort Hare
University of Fort Hare
The University of Fort Hare is a public university in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was a key institution in higher education for black Africans from 1916 to 1959. It offered a Western-style, academically excellent education to students from across sub-Saharan Africa, creating a black...
in 1984. Esau rose through the Mineworkers Union of Namibia
Mineworkers Union of Namibia
Mineworkers Union of Namibia is one of the most powerful of Namibia's trade unions. It plays a leading public role in the Namibian political space and is an ally of the ruling South West Africa People's Organization government.-Strikes:...
to become secretary general of the umbrella National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) in 1991. In 1992, during a time of debate concerning the role of Namibia's trade unions, Esau favored maintaining an alliance with SWAPO. However, Esau later in 1994 suggested that the trade unions could form their own political party if worker's rights continued to be ignored by the SWAPO government. In the same year, the Swakopmund native was placed on the National Assembly list for SWAPO and was voted into the National Assembly in elections the next year. Esau was a member of the politburo
Politburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
of SWAPO from 1991-1997 and the Central Committee of his party since 1991. As Deputy Minister, Esau had to support liberal economic policies, including the setting up of export processing zones in Namibia where labour laws do not apply.