The Honourable Doreen Sioka MP |
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Minister of Labour and Social Welfare | |
Assumed office 4 December 2012 |
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Preceded by | Immanuel Ngatjizeko |
Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare | |
In office 21 March 2005 – 4 December 2012 |
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Preceded by | Marlene Mungunda |
Succeeded by | Rosalia Nghidinwa |
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly | |
In office 21 March 2005 – 21 March 2010 |
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Succeeded by | Loide Kasingo |
Personal details | |
Born |
Kasheshe, Zambezi Region |
18 September 1960
Nationality | Namibian |
Political party | SWAPO |
Spouse(s) | Victor Sioka |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | Management College of Southern Africa |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Teacher |
Doreen Nampiye Sioka (née Matengu, 1960–) is a Namibian politician. She is member of the National Assembly of Namibia since 1994 for the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), and a member of the Cabinet since 2005.
Sioka was born on 18 September 1960 in Kasheshe village in the Zambezi Region and attended Primary School in her home village. At age 15 she went into Zambian exile. When she was injured in a South African Defence Force raid on Oshatotwa in 1976 she decided to join the People's Liberation Army of Namibia, during which she participated in the attacks on Katima Mulilo in 1977 and 1978 as one of only three female insurgents.
After the 1978 attack she worked for Voice of Namibia, SWAPO's exile radio station, and furthered her education. She received a Certificate in Journalism and Library Information in Ndola and completed Secondary School at Roosevelt Secondary School for Girls in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Sioka then worked as teacher at Namibia Health and Education Centre in Kwanza-Sul, Angola, until shortly before Namibian independence.
After independence of Namibia in 1989 Sioka held several political roles in SWAPO's Women's Council. She was elected to Parliament in 1994, and to SWAPO Central Committee in 1997. In 2005, Sioka was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the 4th National Assembly.