Lucia Witbooi

Lucia Witbooi (born 21 March 1961) is a Namibian teacher and politician has been the 4th Vice President of Namibia since 2025. Prior to her tenure as vice president she was a member of the National Assembly from 2009 to 2025.

Her Excellency Lucia Witbooi
4th Vice President of Namibia
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 March 2025
President	Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Preceded by	Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah
Member of the National Assembly
In office 28 November 2009 – 21 March 2025
Personal details
Born	(1961-03-21) 21 March 1961 (age 64) Gabes, South West Africa
Political party	SWAPO
Spouse	Adam Hendrik Witbooi
Children	3
Education	University of Namibia Azaliah College for Further and Higher Education University of Port Elizabeth

Early life

Lucia Witbooi was born in Gabes, South West Africa,^[1] on 21 March 1961,^[2] as one of Willem Witbooi and Anna Witbooi's twelve children. Her family moved to Gibeon, Namibia, in 1967, to farm, but Lucia moved to Keetmanshoop to be educated.^[1]

Witbooi graduated from Suiderling Senior Secondary School in 1979, with a higher primary education certificate from the University of Namibia in 1996, with a diploma in education from the Azaliah College for Further and Higher Education, and a higher diploma in education from the University of Port Elizabeth in 1999. She worked as a teacher for 27 years.^[2][3]

Career

In the 2009 election Witbooi was elected to the Parliament of Namibia as the 34th candidate on SWAPO's electoral list.^[1][2][4] In 2023, she ran for Deputy-Secretary General of SWAPO, but later withdrew.^[5]

During Witbooi's tenure in the parliament she served on the Foreign Affairs, Defence Safety and Security, and Gender and Family Affairs committees and was deputy chair of the Information and Communications Technology committee. She was the Deputy Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare from 2015 to 2020, and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security from 2023 to 2025.^[2]

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed Witbooi as Vice President of Namibia on 22 March 2025. Her appointment made Namibia the only country in Africa with both a female president and vice president.^[3]

Personal life

Witbooi married Adam Hendrik Witbooi, with whom she had three children, at age 21. She retained her maiden name as Adam had the same last name as her. Adam died in a car accident.^[1][4]

Political positions

Witbooi has called for Germany to pay reparations for the Herero and Nama genocide.^[6]