25/11/2025
Namibia's Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Dr.Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare joins list of African Leaders to be honored at
Born on 28 October 1970 in Nkurenkuru in the Kavango region, Dr. comes from humble beginnings and has grown into a nationally respected leader. He holds a (magna cm laude) from Central State University in Ohio, USA, as well as a (LL.M) from the University of Dundee (as a Chevening scholar) and a from the National University of Ireland, Cork.
Many parts of Namibian rural areas have water today as he was a committed director in the Ministry of Agriculture, drilling boreholes for communities before his appointment as the Prime minister.
Dr. Ngurare’s political career is marked by dedicated service to youth, public governance and national development. He rose through the ranks of the SWAPO Party Youth League (SPYL), first serving as Secretary for Information, Publicity and Mobilisation and later becoming its Secretary-General.
During his youth league leadership, he championed access to water, sanitation and housing for underserved communities, issues that remain central to his vision for Namibia.
His journey has not been without challenges. In 2015, he was expelled from SWAPO, but he bravely fought back via the courts and was reinstated. He then served in public service, notably as Director for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation in the Ministry of Agriculture, later becoming the Deputy Executive Director in that same ministry. On 21 March 2025, he was appointed Prime Minister of Namibia.
In his current role, Dr. Ngurare has already demonstrated visionary leadership and a strong commitment to good governance. He has publicly declared a war on corruption, especially targeting procurement loopholes in government agencies. He also launched a National School Rehabilitation Campaign, emphasizing the use of unemployed vocational graduates and local community skills to rebuild school infrastructure across all constituencies.
Beyond economic and infrastructure reforms, Dr. Ngurare shows deep compassion for vulnerable populations. He recently launched a voluntary initiative to support elders and liberations veterans, mobilizing youth, including TVET trainees, to help improve their living conditions. He has also recognized and supported cultural unity, urging Namibian youth to embrace their cultural roots.
In the realm of social protection, his leadership reflects dignity and care: he is pushing for systemic support for the elderly and underserved veterans, consolidating public service with a human-centered policy approach.
Given his academic achievements, political resilience, development-oriented vision and compassionate leadership, Dr. Elijah Ngurare stands out as a highly deserving candidate for a dignitary award. His work is not only shaping Namibia’s future but also setting a strong example across Africa.
Nomination is ongoing for the 2026 scheduled to be held in Kenya 🇰🇪 2nd - 7th March, 2026.