Fanuel Kozonguizi
Fanuel Kozonguizi | |
|---|---|
| National Ombudsman | |
| In office 1990–1995 | |
| President | Sam Nujoma |
| South West Africa Transitional Government Minister of Information | |
| In office 1988–1989 | |
| South West Africa Transitional Government Minister of Justice, Information, Post and Telecommunication | |
| In office 1985–1988 | |
| Administrator-General of South West Africa | |
| In office 1980–1982 | |
| President of South West Africa National Union | |
| In office 1959–1966 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Fanuel Jariretundu Kozonguizi 26 January 1932 Windhoek, South West Africa |
| Died | 1 February 1995 (aged 63) Windhoek, Namibia |
| Nationality | Namibian |
| Political party | SWANU, DTA |
Fanuel Jariretundu Kozonguizi (26 January 1932 - 1 February 1995) was a Namibian politician, diplomat, and lawyer who played a significant role during the Namibian War of Independence as a petitioner. In 1959, Kozonguizi co-founded and became the first president of the South West African National Union (SWANU), Namibia's first political party.
In the 1960s, Kozonguizi served as a permanent petitioner to the United Nations on behalf of the Herero Chiefs' Council. He was among the first Namibian nationalists to present the case for Namibia's self-determination at the UN. He remained in exile for several years and returned to Namibia to take part in the Transitional Government of National Unity in the 1980s. Prior to Namibia's independence, Kozonguizi held high-ranking administrative positions in the then South West Africa under the South African apartheid administration, and during the Transitional Government.
Following independence, he served as a member of Parliament and was appointed Namibia's first Ombudsman. In 1993, he was appointed the United Nations Independent Expert on Somalia, a position he held until 1994. Kozonguizi passed away on 1 February 1995, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to justice and the pursuit of Namibian independence.