Malima has been a member of the Cabinet of Namibia since March 1990 and has served as minister responsible for various ministries since independence.
He attended Oshigambo High School east of Ondangwa and graduated in 1971.
He worked as a political educator, military officer and diplomat of SWAPO, as well as its representative to the Soviet Union between 1987 and 1989.
In 1995 he was promoted to minister, and in 1997 he was moved to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
[2] Malima was appointed director-general of Namibia Central Intelligence Service in May 2015.