Former Speaker of the National Assembly Prof. Peter Katjavivi has received the Grand Cross with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit from the President of Germany, H.E. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, for his contributions to German-Namibian relations.
The Order of Merit was presented by Ambassador Thomas Wimmer at the German Embassy Residence in Windhoek.
The Embassy in a statement, highlighted Katjavivi’s significant role in the liberation struggle, which dates back to 1960, when he went into exile and opened SWAPO’s first Western European office in London in 1968 and managed it for over 10 years.
He held various academic and SWAPO positions abroad before independence. After returning to Namibia, he continued in the academic field and as an academic scholar, holding leading roles at UNAM and NUST and setting up exchanges with many German universities and departments.
Later, Katjavivi held the post of Ambassador to Germany from 2006 to 2008, after which he was made the Director General of the National Planning Commission. He also managed Namibian-German bilateral relations, particularly regarding the colonial past.
“During all his years of service, Professor Katjavivi had especially close links to Germany. Even before Independence, from exile in London, he nurtured close relations with German activists and politicians who were sympathetic to the Namibian struggle,” the Embassy noted.
