Frans Kapofi

Frans Kapofi
MP
Kapofi in 2016
Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs
Assumed office
22 April 2021
PresidentHage Geingob
Preceded byPeter Vilho
Minister of Home Affairs
In office
8 February 2018 – 22 April 2021
PresidentHage Geingob
Preceded byPendukeni Iivula-Ithana
Succeeded byAlbert Kawana
Minister Of Presidential Affairs
In office
21 March 2015 – 8 February 2018
PresidentHage Geingob
Preceded byAlbert Kawana
Succeeded byImmanuel Ngatjizeko
Secretary to cabinet
In office
1999–2015
PresidentHifikepunye Pohamba
Hage Geingob
Personal details
Born (1953-01-25) 25 January 1953
Party SWAPO
Alma materEastern and Southern African Management Institute, Naval Postgraduate School

Frans Kapofi (born 25 January 1953 at Onaame, Ohangwena region) is a Namibian politician who since 1999 has served in various positions in cabinet.[1]

Education

Kapofi obtained a Master’s in Business Administration from the Eastern and Southern Institute for Management, ESAMI, Tanzania in 2006. He also attended a Senior International Defence Management Course at Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, USA in 1996.[2]

Kapofi also possesses a Diploma in Modern Management Administration from the Cambridge Tutorial College, Jersey, Britain, which he obtained in 1993. Furthermore, Kapofi has a Diploma: Social Science, Leninist Institute of High Learning, Moscow, USSR which he obtained in 1994.[3]

Career

Kapofi held various offices during the liberation struggle of Namibia, including Chief Political Commissar of PLAN, SWAPO Defence Headquarters, Lubango (1987-1989); and Deputy Chief Political Commissar of PLAN, SWAPO Defence Headquarters, Lubango (1986-1987), and other various offices in SWAPO.[2]

A member of SWAPO, he is a military officer by training. Kapofi has been a permanent secretary for various ministries of government since 1990. Thereafter he was appointed cabinet secretary from 1999 to 2015. From 2015 to 2018 he served as Minister of Presidential Affairs.[1][4] He was appointed Minister of Home Affairs in a cabinet reshuffle on 8 February 2018.[5] Kapofi retained his portfolio after the 2019 Namibian general election; The ministry gained additionally the portfolio of safety and security in 2020. In a cabinet reshuffle in April 2021, he was moved to the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs.[6] He has closely worked with all three of Namibia’s heads of state.[7]

Kapofi retained his position as minister when Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became president in March 2025. On 28 October 2025 he was additionally appointed interim Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Kapofi, Frans". Parliament of Namibia. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Kapofi, Frans". Namibian of Parliament. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Kapofi, Frans". Namibian of Parliament. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  4. ^ "The Minister of Presidential Affairs". Government of Namibia. Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  5. ^ Matthys, Donald (8 February 2018). "President reshuffles Cabinet—Vice President relieved of duties". Namibia Economist.
  6. ^ Tjitemisa, Kuzeeko (22 April 2021). "Geingob shuffles his pack … Kapofi gets defence, Klazen promoted". New Era. p. 1.
  7. ^ Mumbuu, Edward (7 September 2022). "Swapo's dark horse". New Era.
  8. ^ Shipena, Justicia (29 October 2025). "NNN tasks Kapofi with stabilising mines and energy ministry". Windhoek Observer.