Walter Mackenzie
Walter Mackenzie | |
|---|---|
 Mackenzie in 2016 | |
| 30th Premier of the Hope Province Elections: 2013, 2017, 2021 | |
| Assumed office 12 October 2013 | |
| President | Lochie Goodwin Helena Warwick Jago Elliot |
| Governor | Richard Grante Helena Warwick Johan de Vilock |
| Preceded by | Archer Fleming |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 18, 1962 Port Hope, Hope Province |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Jane Mackenzie (m. 1995) |
| Education | Springbank College |
| Alma mater | University of Port Hope |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Satavia |
| Branch/service | Satavian Army |
| Years of service | 1983-1998 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Light Infantry Regiment Special Air Service |
Major Walter Hendrik Mackenzie (born 18 April 1962) is a Satavian politician and former soldier who has served as the 30th premier of the Hope Province since 2013. A member of the Liberal party, he has been the provincial party leader since 2012, when he replaced Layton Phillips following his defeat in the 2012 Hope Province general election.
Born in Port Hope (then in the Hope Province) to wealthy parents, both of whom were members of the National Party. His father, Jack Mackenzie, was a cabinet minister in the governments of Daniël Wilson and Jacobus du Plessis, but had fallen from favour by 1964, and moved into provincial politics in the Western Freestate. There he rose into prominence quickly, and in 1967 he deposed Lood Malherbe as Premier of the Western Freestate, a position he would hold until his removal and subsequent imprisonment after the September Revolution. Mackenzie was sent to Springbank College in 1975, before matriculating at the University of Port Hope in 1980. Having completed his studies, he joined the Satavian Army in order to fulfil his national service commitments in 1983, but remained in the army, joining the Special Air Service (SAS) in 1986 where he rose to the rank of Major, before retiring in 1998. Mackenzie won pre-selection for the Division of Norwood in the Hope Province Legislative Assembly and later contested that seat successfully in the 1999 Hope Province general election.
Rising to the cabinet in 2004 when he was appointed Minister for Labour under the government of Freddie Hansen. After Hansen's ousting on account of his criminal conviction as part of Operation Mangrove, Mackenzie was promoted by Jack Crew to Minister for Security in 2005. In the ensuing years of back-and-forth between opposition and government, Mackenzie held the positions of Shadow Minister for Security (2007-2009), Minister for Education (2009-February 2011; May 2011-2012) and Shadow Minister for Education (February - May 2011). Following Layton Phillips defeat in the 2012 Hope Province general election, Mackenzie ousted Phillips in a leadership election. After the government of Archer Fleming lost its majority following the deaths of two representatives, and subsequent bye-election losses, it was forced to call a general election which it lost to Mackenzie's Liberal party. Mackenzie went on to serve out a full term, becoming the first Hope Province premier to do so since Avrohom Sternberg did so between 1995 and 1999, and subsequently won re-election in 2017 and 2021.