The Honourable
Calle Schlettwein
MP
Calle Schlettwein in 2019
Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform
Assumed office
18 March 2020
PresidentHage Geingob
Preceded byAlpheus !Naruseb
Minister of Finance
In office
21 March 2015 – 18 March 2020
PresidentHage Geingob
Prime MinisterSaara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
Preceded bySaara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila
Succeeded byIpumbu Shiimi
Minister of Trade and Industry
In office
4 December 2012 – 21 March 2015
PresidentHifikepunye Pohamba
Prime MinisterHage Geingob
Preceded byHage Geingob
Succeeded byImmanuel Ngatjizeko
Deputy Minister of Finance
In office
2010–2012
PresidentHifikepunye Pohamba
Prime MinisterNahas Angula
Succeeded byNatangwe Ithete
Personal details
Born (1954-06-13) 13 June 1954 (age 69)
Otjiwarongo, South West Africa (now Namibia)
NationalityNamibian
Political partySWAPO
Alma materStellenbosch University

Carl-Hermann Gustav "Calle" Schlettwein (born 13 June 1954) is a Namibian politician who has served in the country's cabinet since 2012. In March 2020, he was appointed the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform after serving as the Minister of Finance from 2015 to 2020 and previously as the Minister of Trade and Industry from 2012 to 2015.

Early life

Schlettwein is of German Namibian descent. He attended the Deutsche Höhere Privatschule Windhoek. Between 1974 and 1980 Schlettwein studied Entomology, Zoology and Botany at the University of Stellenbosch. Later he worked as researcher in the Department of Water Affairs.[1]

Career

Beginning at Namibian Independence in 1990, Schlettwein served as permanent secretary in various ministries. After seven years of deployment in the Ministry of Finance, President Hifikepunye Pohamba appointed Schlettwein to the National Assembly as one of the six non-voting Members of Parliament appointed by the President for the term that began in March 2010.[2] He was then appointed as Deputy Minister of Finance in 2010.[3] In a Cabinet reshuffle following the 2012 SWAPO congress, Schlettwein was promoted to Minister of Trade and Industry on 4 December 2012.[4] In this position, he became the first white senior cabinet member since the early post-independence years.[5]

Under president Hage Geingob, Schlettwein was moved to the post of Minister of Finance in March 2015.[6] After Geingob's reelection in 2019, Schlettwein was moved to lead the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.[7]

Other activities

Recognition

On Heroes' Day 2014, Schlettwein was conferred the Most Excellent Order of the Eagle, Second Class.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy". www.mope.gov.na. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ Bridgitte Weidlich, "Sixty seven new MPs sworn in", The Namibian, 23 March 2010.
  3. ^ Ndjebela, Toivo (12 August 2011). "Under Spending is a 'Sin'". New Era. via allafrica.com.
  4. ^ Shipanga, Selma; Immanuel, Shinovene (5 December 2012). "Transition team picked". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  5. ^ Servaas van den Bosch (December 4, 2012), Namibia leader taps trade minister as likely successor Reuters.
  6. ^ "Geingob announces Cabinet". The Namibian. 20 March 2015.
  7. ^ Tjitemisa, K. (2020-03-24). "Agri sector welcomes Schlettwein". New Era. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  8. ^ AfDB Annual Report 2017 African Development Bank (AfDB).
  9. ^ Board of Governors International Monetary Fund (IMF).
  10. ^ Board of Governors Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Bank Group.
  11. ^ Board of Governors World Bank.
  12. ^ "Namibians honoured by President". New Era. 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
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