View source for Theo-Ben Gurirab

{{short description|2nd Prime Minister of Namibia}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Theo-Ben Gurirab (cropped) 02.jpg
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honorable]]
| name                = Theo-Ben Gurirab
| office              = [[List of Speakers of the National Assembly of Namibia|Speaker of the National Assembly]]
| president           = [[Hifikepunye Pohamba]]
| deputy              = 
| term_start          = 21 March 2005
| term_end            = 21 March 2015
| predecessor         = [[Mose Penaani Tjitendero]]
| successor           = [[Peter Katjavivi]]
| office1             = [[Prime Minister of Namibia#List of Prime Ministers of Namibia|2nd]] [[Prime Minister of Namibia]]
| president1          = [[Sam Nujoma]]
| deputy1             = [[Hendrik Witbooi (politician)|Hendrik Witbooi]]
| term_start1         = 28 August 2002
| term_end1           = 20 March 2005
| predecessor1        = [[Hage Geingob]]
| successor1          = [[Nahas Angula]]
| office2             = [[President of the United Nations General Assembly]]
| president2          = 
| deputy2             = 
| term_start2         = 14 September 1999
| term_end2           = 5 September 2000
| predecessor2        = [[Didier Opertti]]
| successor2          = [[Harri Holkeri]]
| office3             = [[List of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Namibia|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
| president3          = Sam Nujoma
| deputy3             = 
| term_start3         = 21 March 1990
| term_end3           = 26 August 2002
| predecessor3        = Position established
| successor3          = [[Hidipo Hamutenya]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date|df=y|1938|01|23}}
| birth_place         = [[Usakos]], [[South West Africa]]
| death_date          = {{death date and age|df=y|2018|7|14|1938|1|23}}
| death_place         = [[Windhoek]], [[Namibia]]
| nationality         = Namibian
| spouse              = Joan Gurirab
| children            = 2
| party               = [[South-West Africa People's Organisation|SWAPO]]
| profession          = Teacher
| occupation          = Politician
| caption             = Gurirab in 2006
}}

'''Theo-Ben Gurirab''' (23 January 1938 – 14 July 2018) was a [[Namibia]]n politician who served in various senior government positions.<ref name="Hammarskjöld">{{Cite web|url=http://dag.un.org/handle/11176/89693|title=Interview with: Theo-Ben Gurirab|last=Krasno|first=Jean E.|publisher=United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library|access-date=9 July 2016|archive-date=15 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715013110/http://dag.un.org/handle/11176/89693|url-status=dead}}</ref> He served as the second [[Prime Minister of Namibia|prime minister of Namibia]] from 28 August 2002 to 20 March 2005, following the demotion and subsequent resignation of [[Hage Geingob]]. Previously he was the country's first Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 2002 and was President of the [[United Nations General Assembly]] from 1999 to 2000. He was Speaker of the [[National Assembly (Namibia)|National Assembly of Namibia]] from 2005 to 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.na/index.php/history/204-dr-theo-benguririb1|title=Gurirab Theo Ben|website=www.parliament.na|access-date=19 April 2020|archive-date=2 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502000348/https://www.parliament.na/index.php/history/204-dr-theo-benguririb1|url-status=dead}}</ref> when he was replaced by [[Peter Katjavivi]]. Gurirab ultimately resigned from politics in 2015.

==Early life and education==
Gurirab was born on 23 January 1938<ref>{{cite news | title=Theo-Ben Gurirab at 80 – a personal reflection | last=September | first=Andre | newspaper=[[The Namibian]] | date= 23 January 2018 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/173666/archive-read/Theo-Ben-Gurirab-at-80-–-a-personal-reflection}}</ref> in [[Usakos]] in the [[Erongo Region]]. In 1960 he obtained a teaching diploma from the [[Augustineum Training College]] in [[Okahandja]], and in 1964 while in exile in the United States, he graduated with a degree in political science from [[Temple University]] in Pennsylvania.<ref name=NE>{{cite news
|title=Theo-Ben Gurirab (1938 ...) An educator, politician and diplomat
|last=Liswaniso
|first=Mwaka
|newspaper=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]]
|date=18 July 2014
|url=http://na.newshub.org/theo-ben-gurirab-1938-educator-politician-and-diplomat-2140590.html
|page=6}}</ref>

==Political career==
Gurirab was in [[exile]] from 1962 to 1989. He fled first to [[Tanzania|Tanganyika]], where he won a United Nations study fellowship and relocated to the United States.<ref name=UNGA>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/en/ga/president/bios/bio54.shtml|title=Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab (Namibia)|publisher=[[United Nations]]|access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref>
He was Associate Representative of the [[SWAPO]] Mission to the United Nations and the United States from 1964 to 1972, then Head of the [[SWAPO]] Mission to the United Nations from 1972 to 1986. Subsequently, he was [[SWAPO]]'s Secretary for Foreign Affairs from 1986 to 1990.<ref name="Parl">[http://www.parliament.gov.na/ims/pub/biodatadetail.asp?e=66&i=439 Profile]at Namibian Parliament website. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308083307/http://www.parliament.gov.na/ims/pub/biodatadetail.asp?e=66&i=439 |date=8 March 2020 }}</ref>

He was a [[SWAPO]] member of the [[Constituent Assembly of Namibia|Constituent Assembly]] which was in place from November 1989 to March 1990, immediately before independence,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030820180107/http://www.parliament.gov.na/ims/pub/getindivs.asp?e=65&en=Constituent+Assembly+of+Namibia+November+1989+-+March+1990 List of members of the Constituent Assembly], Namibian Parliament website.</ref> and the "key drafter"<ref name=NE/> of [[Constitution of Namibia|Namibia's Constitution]]. From 1990 to 2015 he was a member of the National Assembly,<ref name=Parl/> and he also served on the [[Central Committee]] and [[Politburo]] of [[SWAPO]].<ref name=NE/> He was Minister of Foreign Affairs from independence in 1990 until he was appointed as prime minister by President [[Sam Nujoma]] on 27 August 2002, replacing [[Hage Geingob]].<ref>Christof Maletsky (28 August 2002): [http://allafrica.com/stories/200208280060.html "Nujoma shuffles the Cabinet pack"], ''The Namibian'' via allafrica.com.</ref>

While serving as Foreign Minister, he was elected as the president of the [[United Nations General Assembly]] on 14 September 1999, serving in that position until September 2000.<ref>Peter Mwaura, "Namibian to lead UN General Assembly", ''Africa Recovery'', volume 13 #2–3 (September 1999), page 4. {{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/subjindx/132gurir.htm |title=Theo-Ben Gurirab to lead UN General Assembly |access-date=1 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060731155808/http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/subjindx/132gurir.htm |archive-date=31 July 2006 }}</ref> Among Gurirab's achievements at the [[United Nations|UN]] was chairing the negotiations that brought about the reintegration of [[Walvis Bay]] into Namibian territory, in fulfillment of [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 432|Security Council resolution 432]].<ref name=UNGA />

Following the 2004 election, Gurirab was elected as [[List of Speakers of the National Assembly of Namibia|Speaker of the National Assembly]] at the beginning of the new parliamentary term on 20 March 2005.<ref name=Parl/><ref>"New parliament takes office in Namibia", VOA News, 20 March 2005.</ref>

He received the sixth highest number of votes—377—in the election to the Central Committee of [[SWAPO]] at the party's August 2002 congress.<ref>[http://www.namibian.com.na/2002/august/news/027EBA9751.html "The ruling party's new Central Committee"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030309015526/http://www.namibian.com.na/2002/august/news/027EBA9751.html |date=9 March 2003 }}, ''The Namibian'', 27 August 2002.</ref> He was again one of the highest-scoring candidates in the election to the Central Committee at [[SWAPO]]'s November 2007 congress.<ref>Christof Maletsky, "Swapo big names dropped", ''The Namibian'', 3 December 2007. {{cite web |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/2007/December/national/07D12794AF.html |title=Swapo big names dropped |access-date=8 July 2008 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708223119/http://www.namibian.com.na/2007/December/national/07D12794AF.html |archive-date=8 July 2008 }}</ref>

From 2008 to 2011,<ref name=IPU>{{Cite web
|title=Theo-Ben Gurirab IPU President 2008–2011
|publisher= [[Inter-Parliamentary Union]]
|url=http://www.ipu.org/strct-e/gurirab.htm
|access-date=19 July 2014}}</ref> Gurirab was the president of the [[Inter-Parliamentary Union]] (IPU), an international organization of parliaments of sovereign states.<ref>{{cite news |title=IPU chief condemns undemocratic transition of power in Madagascar|agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |date=4 April 2009 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/04/content_11131275.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406051927/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/04/content_11131275.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 April 2009 }}</ref>

Gurirab was re-elected to the National Assembly in the [[2009 Namibian parliamentary election|November 2009 parliamentary election]], in which [[SWAPO]] retained a large majority of seats. When the MPs took their seats for the new parliamentary term on 19 March 2010, they unanimously re-elected Gurirab to his post as Speaker of the National Assembly. Speaking on that occasion, Guiriab stressed the importance of the Constitution: "As one of its authors, and among the longest-serving public officials, and founders of our Republic, I know of the highest vision the Constitution provides for Namibia, as well as the promise of national unity, reconciliation, democracy, the rule of law, human dignity, socio-economic emancipation and the commitment to protect the gains of our long and bitter struggle for liberation and independence."<ref>John Ekongo, [https://archive.today/20120914132911/http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=10089&sid=91c1f4e30987be6a1e17ae965dff470a "New MPs take their seats"], ''New Era'', 23 March 2010.</ref>

In late August 2014, when [[SWAPO]] chose its list of parliamentary candidates for the [[2014 Namibian general election|November 2014 general election]], Gurirab was not on the list.<ref>[http://www.newera.com.na/2014/09/01/swapo-undergoes-massive-transition-complete-overhaul-in-parliamentary-ranks/ "Swapo undergoes massive transition... Complete overhaul in parliamentary ranks"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321042638/http://www.newera.com.na/2014/09/01/swapo-undergoes-massive-transition-complete-overhaul-in-parliamentary-ranks/ |date=21 March 2023 }}, ''New Era'', 1 September 2014.</ref> When the National Assembly began meeting for its new term on 20 March 2015, Gurirab was succeeded as Speaker by [[Peter Katjavivi]].<ref>[http://mobi.nampa.org/index.php?f=display&n=115963 "Katjavivi is now Speaker of the National Assembly"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116013036/http://mobi.nampa.org/index.php?f=display&n=115963 |date=16 November 2018 }}, NAMPA, 20 March 2015.</ref><ref>Shinovene Immanuel, [http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=134998&page=archive-read "Katjavivi vows to keep MPs in line"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321042637/http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=134998&page=archive-read |date=21 March 2023 }}, ''The Namibian'', 23 March 2015.</ref>

==Death==
Gurirab died at a [[Windhoek]] hospital on 14 July 2018 of natural causes.<ref name="SouthernTimes">{{cite news|url=https://southerntimesafrica.com/site/news/namibia-mourns-liberation-hero-gurirab|title=Namibia mourns liberation hero Gurirab|date=14 July 2018|work=[[Southern Times]]|access-date=14 July 2018|archive-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504122836/https://southerntimesafrica.com/site/news/namibia-mourns-liberation-hero-gurirab|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is buried at [[Heroes' Acre (Namibia)|Heroes' Acre]].

==Awards==
* 1999: Doctorate of Law ''[[honoris causa]]'', [[University of Namibia]]<ref name=NE/>
* [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Namibia|Order of the Sun]] First Class<ref name=NE/>
* since 2002: member of the [[International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation]]<ref name=IPU/>
* 2000: Honorary Professorship of Foreign Affairs, [[China Foreign Affairs University]], Beijing. Gurirab was only the third foreigner to be bestowed with this title.<ref name=IPU/>
* 2000: Founding member of the [[Olympic Truce Foundation]] in Athens<ref name=IPU/>
* 2011: Honorary President of the IPU<ref name=IPU/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}

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{{s-intgov}}
{{succession box|before=[[Didier Opertti Badan]]|title=[[President of the United Nations General Assembly]]|years=1999–2000|after=[[Harri Holkeri]]}}
{{s-gov}}
{{succession box|before=[[Hage Geingob]]|title=[[Prime Minister of Namibia]]|years=2002–2005|after=[[Nahas Angula]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Presidents of the UN General Assembly}}
{{NamibianPMs}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gurirab, Theo-Ben}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:Prime ministers of Namibia]]
[[Category:Speakers of the National Assembly (Namibia)]]
[[Category:Ministers of foreign affairs of Namibia]]
[[Category:Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly]]
[[Category:Permanent representatives of Namibia to the United Nations]]
[[Category:People from Usakos]]
[[Category:Damara people]]
[[Category:SWAPO politicians]]
[[Category:Namibian diplomats]]
[[Category:Augustineum Secondary School alumni]]