Honorific-Prefix: | The Honourable |
Calle Schlettwein | |
Honorific-Suffix: | MP |
Birth Date: | 13 June 1954 |
Nationality: | Namibian |
Alma Mater: | Stellenbosch University |
Party: | SWAPO |
Office: | Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform |
Term Start: | 18 March 2020 |
President: | Hage Geingob |
Predecessor: | Alpheus !Naruseb |
Office2: | Minister of Finance |
Term Start2: | 21 March 2015 |
Term End2: | 18 March 2020 |
President2: | Hage Geingob |
Primeminister2: | Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila |
Predecessor2: | Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila |
Office3: | Minister of Trade and Industry |
Term Start3: | 4 December 2012 |
Term End3: | 21 March 2015 |
President3: | Hifikepunye Pohamba |
Primeminister3: | Hage Geingob |
Predecessor3: | Hage Geingob |
Successor3: | Immanuel Ngatjizeko |
Office4: | Deputy Minister of Finance |
Term Start4: | 2010 |
Term End4: | 2012 |
President4: | Hifikepunye Pohamba |
Primeminister4: | Nahas Angula |
Successor4: | Natangwe Ithete |
Carl-Hermann Gustav "Calle" Schlettwein (born 13 June 1954) is a Namibian politician who has served in the country's cabinet since 2012. In March 2020, he was appointed the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform after serving as the Minister of Finance from 2015 to 2020 and previously as the Minister of Trade and Industry from 2012 to 2015.
Schlettwein is of German Namibian descent. He attended the Deutsche Höhere Privatschule Windhoek. Between 1974 and 1980 Schlettwein studied Entomology, Zoology and Botany at the University of Stellenbosch. Later he worked as researcher in the Department of Water Affairs.[1]
Beginning at Namibian Independence in 1990, Schlettwein served as permanent secretary in various ministries. After seven years of deployment in the Ministry of Finance, President Hifikepunye Pohamba appointed Schlettwein to the National Assembly as one of the six non-voting Members of Parliament appointed by the President for the term that began in March 2010.[2] He was then appointed as Deputy Minister of Finance in 2010.[3] In a Cabinet reshuffle following the 2012 SWAPO congress, Schlettwein was promoted to Minister of Trade and Industry on 4 December 2012.[4] In this position, he became the first white senior cabinet member since the early post-independence years.[5]
Under president Hage Geingob, Schlettwein was moved to the post of Minister of Finance in March 2015.[6] After Geingob's reelection in 2019, Schlettwein was moved to lead the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.[7]
On Heroes' Day 2014, Schlettwein was conferred the Most Excellent Order of the Eagle, Second Class.[12]