Description:
The interview was recorded in Namibia,on March 10, 1999.The Interviewer was Jean Krasno.
As one of the lead activists for Namibian Independence, Dr. Mose Penaani Tjitendero became a member of the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) Central Committee in 1981. When Namibia won independence on 21 March 1990, he became the Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia and held that position until his retirement 2004.
Heavily involved with his home country's road to independence, Dr. Tjitendero was involved in the preparation for Security Council Resolution 435, which ultimately led to Namibia's independence, and the setup of the United Nations Institute for Namibia, a training institute for middle-level public administrators. Dr. Tjitendero discusses these experiences in this interview, conducted on 10 March 1999, while he was still serving as Speaker. He shares his thoughts about the first elections, apartheid in Namibia and the role that the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) played in independence.