THOUGHT LEADER THURSDAY

DR Ongama Mtimka

Lecturer in the department of history and political studies at Nelson Mandela University

Ongama Mtimka lectures Democratisation and State Transformation, South African Politics, and International Political Economy at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha, South Africa.

His key research interests are in party politics including electoral competition, political economy, and development. He has extensive work experience in higher education (research & lecturing), community development, local government and in special economic zones involved in infrastructure development and investment promotion.

Ongama comments regularly on South African politics as a political analyst on national and international media. Has holds a PhD in Political Studies with a research project on the political economy of transformation in the construction sector and the role of organized small business forums.

He graduated with a Masters in South African Politics and Political Economy from Nelson Mandela University, where he also obtained his PhD, and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Rhodes University. He has presented at international conferences in Brazil and two times at the United States of America. Ongama has delivered speeches on the political outlook of South Africa for senior executives in listed companies and industry associations as well as in national disciplinary conferences.

He is the Treasurer of the South African Association of Political Studies and its past Emerging Academics Research Committee Chair. He is the Founder and Executive Chairperson of the South African Political Risk Institute and it’s product, the South African Journal of Political Risk.