Emma Theofelus

Emma Inamutila Theofelus (born 28 March 1996) is a Namibian politician, currently serving as deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Technology.[1] Theofelus was 23 years old at the time of her appointment in March 2020 and is the current youngest woman government minister in both Africa and Namibia.[2][3]

Emma Theofelus
Deputy minister of Information, Communication and Technology
In office
27 March 2020 – 20 March 2025
PresidentHage Geingob
Personal details
Born (1996-03-28) March 28, 1996
Namibia
Alma materUniversity of Namibia

Career

Theofelus is a former youth activist, having served as deputy speaker of the Children's Parliament from 2013 to 2018.[4] She started her career after she completed a law degree[5] at the University of Namibia, as legal officer in the Ministry of Justice. The call from the State House came as a surprise.[6]

The appointment of younger leaders to high office is not entirely new in Africa.[7] Theofelus was appointed Namibia's deputy minister of Information, Communication and Technology in March 2020, as part of Hage Geingob's second term cabinet.[8] In her role, she was tasked with assisting in leading public communication on preventative steps against Namibia's COVID-19 pandemic.[9] At the time of cabinet appointment, Theofelus was 23 and one of Africa's youngest cabinet ministers.[9] She is also a board member of the National Council of Higher Education.[10]

As a deputy minister, she led the country’s public communication campaign on COVID-19 preventions in Namibia, and as a Member of Parliament, her motion enabled feminine hygiene products to be identified as a tax-free commodity. Prior to her appointment, Theofelus was a member of the Namibia chapter of AfriYAN, a regional youth-led organisation, where she led pioneering efforts to fight teen pregnancy and protect young people’s sexual and reproductive health.[11]

Achievements

In 2020 she was judged to be one of 100 most influential African women, the youngest person on this list.[12] In 2021 Theophelus was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of the year.[13] She also received the 2022 United Nations Population Award for her work advocating for women’s empowerment and adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Namibia[11]

In 2021, Theofelus proposed a motion on the removal of the tax on sanitary pads in Parliament. In 2022, the motion was put into effect when the Minister of Finance Iipumbu Shiimi announced the abolishment of Value Added Tax on sanitary pads, according to the Tax Amendment Act of 2022, effective since 1 January 2023.[14]

Interests

Her legislative interests are parliament oversight, parliamentary self-development, E-parliament, climate change legislation, youth participation in parliament, and parliamentary research[4]

References
  1. "At 27, Emma Theofelus is the current youngest serving government minister in Africa". GhanaWeb. 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  2. Awal, Mohammed (25 March 2020). "Emma Theofilus is Namibia's youngest minister and MP at 23". face2face Africa.
  3. "At 23, Emma Theofilus Becomes Namibia's Youngest Minister and Member of Parliament | How Africa News". 2020-03-26. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  4. "Theofilus, Emma". www.parliament.na. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  5. Ngatjiheue, Charmaine (24 March 2020). "Nam's youngest MP takes office". The Namibian.
  6. Plessis, Carien du (2020-04-17). "Namibia's youngest MP enters the crucible as Africa's youth lead the way". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  7. "Namibia's youngest MP enters the crucible as Africa's youth lead the way". TheGuardian.com. 17 April 2020.
  8. Ikela, Selma (2020-03-24). "Born-free prepares for ministerial job". New Era Live. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  9. du Plessis, Carien (17 April 2020). "Namibia's youngest MP enters the crucible as Africa's youth lead the way". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  10. "Ms. Emma Inamutila Theofelus". NCHE. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  11. "Pioneering 25-year-old parliamentarian from Namibia and National Population and Family Planning Board in Indonesia win 2022 UN Population Award". UNFPA ESARO. 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  12. Siririka, Paheja (21 August 2020). "Geingos, Theofelus among 100 most influential women". New Era.
  13. "BBC 100 Women 2021: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
  14. "VAT abolished on sanitary wear". New Era. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  • "Deputy Minister". Republic of Namibia: Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.
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