Natangwe Ithete

Natangwe Paulus Ithete is a Namibian politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industrialization, Mines, and Energy of the Republic of Namibia in 2025. He is also a legislator in the Parliament of Namibia as a member of the National Assembly. Ithete served in President Hage Geingob's administration as Deputy Minister of Finance from 2015 to 2020.

Education

Ithete obtained a diploma in Human Resources and Labour Relations from the Academy of York in Randburg, South Africa. He also obtained a diploma in Property Finance and Economic Evaluation from Damelin, and a certificate in banking.

Professional career

Ithete worked as an office administrator from 2000 to 2002. He then joined Agribank of Namibia and worked there until 2015. In 2013, Ithete became vice president of the Namibia Financial Institutions Union 2013.

Political career

Ithete is a member of SWAPO and held several positions in the SWAPO Party Youth League. He became a member of parliament in 2015. President Hage Geingob appointed him as deputy to the Minister of Finance. He served until 2020 but did not retain his cabinet seat in Geingob's second term, a development that was seen as a "surprise". In the 2020–2025 legislative period, he was the chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on economics and public administration.
Ithete was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia, as well as Minister of Industrialization, Mines and Energy, on 21 March 2025. On 26 October 2025, he was dismissed from his ministerial position at the Ministry of Mines and Energy and from his role as Deputy Prime Minister. He remains a member of parliament. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah assumed the position of Minister of Mines and Energy herself.