mnyika was born in epinga, ohangwena region, ovamboland. he was one of the first namibians who went into exile in the late 1950s and 1960s because of oppression by the south african authorities. after working in the gold mines of south africa, he fled to neighboring bechuanaland (now botswana) and set off for tanganyika (now tanzania). mnyika and fellow swapo activist maxton joseph mutongolume were arrested in southern rhodesia (zimbabwe) and deported to south africa, where they were charged with leaving the country illegally. after spending several months in an old location prison outside of windhoek, mnyika fled again and successful reached tanganyika.