Amathila, Libertine Appolus (1940–)

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Amathila, Libertine Appolus (1940–)

Namibian political leader and health expert. Born Libertine Appolus in 1940 in Fransfontein, South West Africa (today Namibia); m. Ben Amathila (Namibian political activist).

Joined the growing Namibian independence movement; went into exile (1962) and lived for some time in Tanzania, where she applied for, and received, a scholarship to study in Poland; while becoming a leading SWAPO activist in Europe, completed a medical education in Poland, Sweden, and London; served as director of the Women's Council of SWAPO (late 1960s–1970s); a universally recognized figure by the time Namibian independence was achieved (1990), was easily elected to the Assembly of a newly independent Namibia and named minister of Local Government and Housing.

See also Women in World History.