30 YEARS AND BEYOND! - The Namibian
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MARCH 2020
INDEPENDENCE JOURNAL
30 YEARS AND BEYOND!
‘My name is Twenty-One March’
NAMIBIA’S ‘COMING OUT’ HISTORY
... Free, but vulnerable.
Growth and progress until
recession hit economy
No peace with poverty – Nujoma
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DIRECTED BY STORY BY PRODUCED BY
DEMOCRACY THE PEOPLE BLOOD AND SWEAT
30
Years
later One nation’s journey from hardship to heroes
“An epic in the making!”
GOtv PROUDLY PRESENTS A TRULY NAMIBIAN STORY IN ASSOCIATION WITH PROSPERITY AND FREEDOM FOR ALL |
CASTING BY NAMIBIAN FAMILIES | STORY BY THE PEOPLE | SUPPORTING ROLES BY THE FOUNDING FATHERS |
DIRECTED BY DEMOCRACY AND EQUALITY | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW |
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY NAMIBIA
COMING 21 MARCH 2020
www.gotvafrica.com
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CONTENTS
22
PUBLICATION:
30 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE 10 12
EDITOR Tangeni Amupadhi
COORDINATING Theresia Tjihenuna
EDITOR
16
This is Twenty-One
March
CONTRIBUTORS Arlana Shikongo Namibia’s human
Clemans Miyanicwe rights: 30 years
Dwight Links and beyond
Ester Mbathera The man who lit the
Ndanki Kahiurika independence torch
Okeri Ngutjinazo
Tutaleni Pinehas Thirty facts about
Yokany Oliveira Namibia
SUBEDITORS Nick de Voss
Matthew Dlamini IN THIS ISSUE ...
Werner Menges
4 Foreword: ‘The journey of a thousand miles
DESIGN & LAYOUT Lotta Kaapanda begins with a single step.’- President Hage Geingob
6 Sam Nujoma: ‘There can be no peace with poverty’
STRATEGIC Zack Sheehama
PUBLICATIONS Zandra Groeneveld 8 Professional Views: Socio-economic progress in
independent Namibia
PRINTERS CTP Printers 10 The man who lit the independence torch
12 Namibia’s human rights: thirty years and beyond
Phone: +264 61 279 600; Fax: +264 61 279 602
Address: 42 John Meinert Street, PO Box 20783, Windhoek, 16 30 facts about Namibia
Namibia
21 A 30-year-old’s birthday wish
PUBLISHED BY THE FREE PRESS OF NAMIBIA 22 This is Twenty-One March
(PTY) LTD.
24 Vox Pops: 30-year-olds’ perspective
All rights are reserved. Whilst every care has been taken to
ensure accuracy of information contained within, no liability 28 Where were we on Independence Day?
can be accepted by the publishers or the contributors for any
errors, misstatements or omissions which may have occurred. 30 ‘We had to put our differences aside for the
The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily Consiitution’
those of the publishers. Also, the publishers accept no legal
liability regarding the copyright ownerships for material which 32 Namibia’s coming out history
was supplied directly to the publishers by any of the advertisers
or contributors. 36 Growth and progress until recession hit economy
44 The Declaration 30 years on
This special supplement can also be accessed on our website 46 Grappling with inequality 30 years later
www.namibian.com.na
48 Independence added sparkle to Miss Namibia crown
SALES & MARKETING TEAM
Morina Britz Lo-Ammi Podewiltz Jezuva Keeja Noriene van Wyk Phozia Mouton
morina@namibian.com.na lo-ammi@namibian.com.na jezuva@namibian.com.na noriene@namibian.com.na phozia@namibian.com.na
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FOREWORD
‘The journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step’
A government can only be by the people and for the people,
if it listens to their voices. Indeed, as a well-functioning
democracy, the people are the ultimate sovereigns. As
government, we have listened to the cries and calls of the
sovereigns.
Namibians pointed out to us, areas needing improvement.
On unemployment, we heard you. On the economic
situation, we heard you. On the lack of decent shelter, we
heard you. On the Namibia Students Financial Assistance
Fund (NSFAF), we heard you. On the fishing sector, we
have also heard you.
With the above in mind, we remain committed to
ON 21 March 2020, Namibians from all walks of life will strengthening the fight against corruption, and improving
celebrate the country’s 30th independence anniversary. accountability and transparency within the government.
Thirty years ago, the heroic sacrifices of the brave sons Furthermore, we are determined to improve operational
and daughters of this country paid dividends. After a bitter and financial performance and service delivery, across
and protracted struggle, a new nation was birthed, where a all tiers of government from local to regional, as well as
people devastated by war, socio-economic discrimination, central government.
as well as racial and ethnic divisions came together to We have never been under the illusion that our journey
embrace unity, nationhood and sovereignty. towards prosperity will be smooth. As a nation, we have
The first task of the new government was to create reason to be optimistic about our future. What we have
democratic institutions and set conditions for peace. As achieved over the past 30 years should make us confident
we reflect on the past 30 years of independence, we take that we can win the war against poverty and inequality.
comfort in the fact that Namibia has made commendable A journey is never always up or always down. It is an
strides in human development by improving the exercise in faith, patience and perseverance.
quality of life of citizens through effective governance, We will encounter challenges that will test our courage,
social progression, economic advancement and the strength, weaknesses and faith. In this regard, the
implementation of socio-economic interventions. government will continue to champion national
As we celebrate this milestone in this year of introspection, development by buttressing solid processes, systems and
it is necessary that we take stock of what we have achieved institutions, anchored on the Constitution and the rule of
as a nation, to reflect on the challenges we face and set law.
actions that will take us on course towards the realisation Lao Tzu said: “The journey of a thousand miles begins
of an inclusive and prosperous Namibian House. with a single step.” We started the journey together on 21
Today, Namibia has well-developed infrastructure. The March 1990, armed with the victories of our struggle and
Namibian government has more than doubled the number with the bold dream of an inclusive, united and prosperous
of schools since independence, allowing more children to Namibian House.
attend school. More than 90% of Namibians have access Namibians should rededicate themselves to working for
to potable water, and healthcare has been rolled out to the ideal of a better country, in which no one should feel
remote areas. left out.
Namibia is one of the few countries in sub-Saharan I am confident that Namibia will continue to enjoy peace
Africa with a social protection system of monthly grants and stability as we relentlessly pursue prosperity for all
for pensioners, vulnerable children, orphans and people in the next decade and beyond.
living with disabilities. Unquestionably, Namibia at independence and Namibia
Democracy, the rule of law, effective governance and today are miles apart.
individual freedoms are key ingredients for our country. On the occasion of this milestone of three decades of
A strong foundation has been laid of these important independence and freedom,
freedoms, with all the governance indicators rating I wish you all a Happy 30th Independence Anniversary!
Namibia highly for quality of governance, including its
position as the country with the freest press in Africa. One Namibia, One Nation!
Over the last 30 years, a robust democratic and governance
architecture based on the principles of accountability and
transparency has been consolidated.
Namibia has been holding free and fair elections, of which
the 7th democratic elections were held on 27 November Dr Hage G Geingob
2019. A new government will be formed on 21 March 2020. President of the Republic of Namibia
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REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
HAPPY 30th INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY NAMIBIA!
21 MARCH 2020
On this Pearl Jubilee 30th Independence Anniversary celebration of our great nation, the Government of the Republic of Namibia
wishes the entire Namibian nation a jubilant 30th Independence anniversary.
As we celebrate this momentous and historic occasion, we take a moment to honour the sacrifices of the gallant sons and
daughters of Namibia whose blood waters our freedom.
As a nation born of brave souls, may we deeply reflect and continue emulating those who valiantly pursued our emancipation from
political, social and economic hardships for a prosperous future.
Let us forever cherish our hard earned independence, remain united and jealously guard our hard earned peace and stability - the
ultimate premium for our nation to forge ahead with advancing the developmental aspirations of our people.
In the face of heightened global economic hardships, let us remain focused and resolute as we navigate intermittent economic
turbulences.
As a nation, we should take pride in our modest achievements over the past thirty years while at the same time rededicating
ourselves to accelerate interventions aimed at addressing the plethora of challenges we are and will continue to be confronted
with. We must build the necessary national resilience to deal with such challenges!
Government remains committed to improving the livelihoods of all our people and address
a myriad of social ills that inhibit our strive for social justice and prosperity for all Namibians.
Happy Independence Day Namibia!
CELEBRATING Great nations are founded on the bedrock of a
unified vision of the prosperity for its people.
THE ENERGY THAT Join us today as we celebrate 30 years of
independence and the relentless energy
KEEPS US MOVING
towards unearthing the very best of ourselves.
1141/26/02/2020
National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia
1 Aviation Road, Petroleum House
Private Bag 13196, Windhoek
www.namcor.com.na
uhoveka@namcor.com.na
nnegumbo@namcor.com.na
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Photo: Garwin Beukes
THIRTY YEARS AND COUNTING ... Founding president Sam Nujoma talks
about what the country has achieved through 30 years of
independence and the challenges that must still be tackled.
‘There can be no
peace with poverty’
Photo: Contributed
ARLANA SHIKONGO and OKERI NGUTJINAZO
COMRADES IN ARMS ... Hendrik Witbooi (left) and Daniel Tjongarero (right)
stand alongside founding president Sam Nujoma during one of his
FOUNDING president Sam Nujoma has asserted that Namibia’s aim and objective visits to the members of Swapo’s military wing, Plan, in Angola.
‘‘
should be to eradicate poverty as there can be no peace when some of the
country’s citizens are still impoverished.
‘‘Our aim and objective are to ensure that we eradicate poverty, disease and Every Namibian was happy when we achieved our freedom
ignorance from the face of our country and from the continent as a whole and journey of independence because colonialism was
because we are members of the African Union. oppression and enslavement. Even though the apartheid
“We have to contribute with everything possible, to ensure peace and stability on regime of South Africa was more equipped with weapons of
the continent. There can be no peace if there is poverty,” Nujoma said during an suppression, we made sure to escape.
interview with The Namibian as he reflected on 30 years of independence.
– Sam Nujoma, founding president of Namibia
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While identifying poverty as one of Namibia’s major regime of South Africa was more equipped with weapons of
challenges, Nujoma remained optimistic about the strides suppression, we made sure to escape,” he noted.
the country has made since achieving independence. The liberation of 21 March 1990 did not come easy for
The Namibian met the founding father at his office in Klein Namibia, as the country was one of the last on the continent
Windhoek for an interview to reflect on some of Namibia’s to achieve its independence.
achievements and challenges 30 years after independence. Led by Nujoma, as a founding member and first president of
His walk has slowed a bit with age, and the 90-year-old the South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo), which
liberation fighter’s eyes softened at their corners, as he was known as the Ovambo People’s Organisation prior to
added that despite poverty, Namibians should be proud of 1960, the Namibian war of independence was a lengthy, 23-
some of the achievements since 1990. year struggle.
“I think Namibia is a peaceful country and I think it is even It was a war fought between the People’s Liberation Army of
recognised by the international community that Namibia is Namibia (Plan) and the South African Defence Force.
a peaceful country and, therefore, it is also developing,” he Plan was the armed wing of Swapo, which was formed in
said. 1962 after revolutionaries and freedom fighters realised
He highlighted the establishment of schools at primary, that their efforts to engage the United Nations (UN) and the
secondary and tertiary levels, zeroing in on the increasing International Court of Justice were proving futile.
population that has access to this fundamental human right. “We went to petition the UN but this did not help [us from]
He also identified education as “the priority above all other the apartheid regime.
priorities”. They said they could not give land to ‘kaffirs’. It is the
“Before independence, there was Bantu education in terminology they used,” Nujoma reflected.
Namibia and no single university for the majority of our However, Nujoma mulled over the independence of
people. Now, we have a University of Namibia, which is our Namibia’s neighbours, as their attainment of freedom
largest and leading national institution of higher education. inspired and strengthened this country’s continued quest for
“Now, Unam has 12 campuses. This is a very remarkable liberation.
achievement, which all of us should appreciate and “We were encouraged by the achievement of independence;
acknowledge,” he said. first [in the Southern African Development Community] of
The founding father also acknowledged that more needed Tanzania in December 1961, followed by Zambia in 1964,
to be done to make education fully accessible to the entire Angola and Mozambique in 1975, and Zimbabwe in 1980,”
nation. he said.
“But still, we need to educate more of our children all Furthermore, Nujoma noted that it was this “long border
over the country, not only around Windhoek but also the with the independent Republic of Angola” reaching from
whole country. So, education must continue to be provided Zambia all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, and the support of
because once we have educated people then we will be able Angola’s first president, Agostinho Neto, that helped Swapo
to eradicate poverty and disengage ignorance,” he asserted. in training its combatants.
Nujoma said the ruling party Swapo maintains its objective “I am with him [Neto] there in Luanda. So, he said that we
to ensure the eradication of poverty as one of its highest must stand up and fight and he gave us support,” Nujoma
priorities. said, pointing at an image of himself and Neto hanging on
Nujoma also took time to reminisce about the period before a nearby wall.
independence, reiterating that the struggle for independence While his age is carrying him relatively well, ‘Tate Sam’
came at a high price. could only sit with this newspaper for so long, sharing
He still speaks of taking up arms to challenge the white jovially in his memory of the Namibia the freedom fighters
colonisers and facing the South African ‘Boers’ at the United and anti-apartheid activists fought for, and the Namibia he
Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, just before Namibia was sees on the horizon.
granted independence. “I call upon all the Namibians to respect our elders, to
“Every Namibian was happy when we achieved our freedom respect his excellency president Hage Geingob and all our
and journey of independence because colonialism was ministers and to ensure that peace and stability prevail in
oppression and enslavement. Even though the apartheid every edge of the Republic of Namibia,” he said. n
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PROFFESIONAL
PROFFESIONAL VIEWS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROGRESS IN AN INDEPENDENT NAMIBIA
AS a way to reflect on the past 30 years of Namibia’s strides in terms of peace and political stability as
independence, The Namibian approached various well as the restoration of the dignity of the previously
experts, including economists, political scientists oppressed.
and social activists to get their views on how However, high unemployment especially among the
Namibia has been faring. youth, and a wide inequality gap still remain issues
The unanimous view is that Namibia has made in the country. Here is what various experts said.
CHARMAINE NGATJIHEUE
Political scientist Henning Melber: urgent need for improvement in governance.
Many of the necessary reforms have been identified:
the bloated civil service (already identified as a
Namibia’s noteworthy
serious problem since the 1995 Wage and Salary
achievement is the relative
Commission ‘Wascom’) is just one of the examples.
social stability and the
The self-enrichment of members of the new elite
rule of law since the
is another one. And the lack of socio-economic
country’s transition to an
transformation as already mentioned is also one of
independent state, with
the main challenges for policy makers.
the exception of the failed
Caprivi secession attempt.
There was hardly any
act of politically motivated
violence in the three decades of
independence. Namibia has also, to a large PSG head of research
extent, lived up to the constitutional values adopted in Eloise du Plessis:
the normative framework: civil liberties and rights,
free political association, and related codified human
rights were, to a large extent, respected. We have made enormous
Despite these achievements, one of the challenges strides in some areas
the country still faces 30 years later is the lack of since independence.
fundamental socio-economic transformation. While Our banking system is
civil liberties are an asset, the Constitution also world-class and stable;
reproduced existing gross disproportions in property we have developed a great
ownership. The colonial structures of the economy road infrastructure; and infant
and the inherent gross inequalities were sanctioned mortality has been reduced. I think we h a v e
and consolidated. A major challenge, therefore, failed at providing quality and relevant education to
remains that ordinary people ought to benefit more, our children.
not only in terms of civil rights, but also in their socio- We have also created legislative systems that
economic situation from independence. One cannot incentivise corruption. In terms of the economy,
eat democracy. Namibia showed excellent economic growth up to
Looking at the political front, the most notable aspects 2016. We weathered the global financial crisis, and
have been the November 2019 elections because for continued growing.
the first time, Swapo and its presidential candidate We did, however, become too reliant on government
suffered severe losses. spending.
This is a sign that the credibility and legitimacy of the Finally, the room for improvement, in my opinion, lies
former liberation movement, in hegemonic control in getting the government out of a lot of industries
over the country’s political sphere since obtaining a and making regulation more small-business friendly.
two-thirds majority in the National Assembly in the Meanwhile, legislation needs to be consistent and
1994 elections and ever since then consolidating its objectively implementable without giving undue
dominance, is in decline. power to individuals, which fosters corruption.
The mushrooming of so-called ‘independent’ Privatising some of the public enterprises will be a
candidates in elections is a sign of the party-internal step in the right direction.
dissonances and the frustration, especially among
the younger generation. These are indications that
there is not only room for improvement but also an
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Economist Klaus Schade:
Senior economics lecturer
Notable achievements 30 Omu Kakujaha-Matundu:
years after independence
are peace and stability
that could not be taken Namibia’s biggest
for granted after a long achievements after 30 years
struggle for freedom. Another of independence are so many.
achievement is the international The biggest, being the restoration
acknowledgement for community of African dignity, accompanied by a
conservancies and wildlife protection. greater participation of Africans in their political and
Reduction in poverty and income inequality, although economic affairs.
more needs to be and can be done, is also an achievement. That includes greater participation in jobs of all
Other factors are the expansion and diversification of kinds. Finally, improved access by Africans to health,
the economy as exemplified for instance, by the tourism, education and other services.
grape and more recently, biomass utilisation (in particular Despite the achievements, the challenges are also
charcoal) industries. Meanwhile, the challenges are many, but I will single out three:
that much more has to be and can be done to reduce poverty, increasing inequality and unemployment
unemployment, poverty and income inequality. maladministration and
Income inequality impacts on domestic demand and on corruption.
economic opportunities. Despite significant allocations Politically, there is the consolidation of the reac-
to the education and health sectors, the outcome is not tionary, self-interested leadership who through
satisfactory. More funds need to be allocated to education nepotism, patronage and cronyism have created a
and health facilities, equipment and materials. However, handful of elites that are plundering the resources of
it is not just a matter of financial resources, but of the people. I see no way out in the near future, unless
management of these sectors at all levels. serious forces of change consolidate themselves
The allocation of scarce public resources needs to be clearly and work towards the overthrow of these vices.
prioritised, and spending on unproductive expenditure cut. Improvement? Only time will tell.
Policies and regulations have to be more investor-friendly
to attract domestic and foreign direct investment that will
result in job creation, increased exports and or reduced
imports.
Corruption, fraud and nepotism have to be strongly
addressed in order to increase trust and confidence.
Political scientist Graham Hopwood: Fishrot, we should be in no doubt about the
threat of corruption and its ability to undermine
The major achievements development gains-but we do not have the
for Namibia 30 years political will at the top to fight it. That struggle
after independence are will have to be driven from below-by engaged
the maintenance of peace citizens who are determined not to let Namibia
and stability and the collapse into the quagmire of corruption.
development of democracy. On the political front: Having one dominant
Both are works in progress party-in the form of Swapo-has led to stability
but there is no doubt that Namibia and predictability in Namibian politics. However,
is in a far better place than it was prior to 1990. since 2019 it is now clear that politics in Namibia
Our human rights culture is evolving but has a is changing and a young, frustrated generation is
solid foundation in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights. looking for alternatives.
We have a good base on which to build. Perhaps it is surprising that this is only happening
In terms of challenges, I think the biggest is job after 30 years. A complacent and lethargic
creation. If we could create sustainable jobs that political class is now feeling the heat. But it is
pay reasonable wages, this would have a major not clear where these political developments
impact in terms of poverty reduction. We have will take the country. It feels like we have a
never come up with a strategy that can help the leadership crisis-the ageing incumbent leaders
private sector create jobs. Instead, we have been lack the vision and energy to take the country
reliant on the notion that the government and state forward, while the younger generation are often
entities should create the bulk of employment. immature in their political expression and ideas.
Otherwise we have allowed corruption to
undermine economic and social gains. Following
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The man who lit the
INDEPENDENCE TORCH
‘‘ I will never forget the hours
before midnight, the stadium
was full, the stadium was a
riot of colours and celebration,
the dancing did not stop and
Photos: Tutaleni Pinehas / contributed
that was the true soul of
THE RUNNER... Frank Kayele was a household
Namibia.”
name in Namibia’s Olympic circles before – Frank Kayele
and shortly after independence.
TUTALENI PINEHAS Independence Stadium in Windhoek to carry the
torch from the Oshikoto region. This is the part he
HIS name might not ring a bell to millennials, but vividly remembers about that day.
veteran athlete Frank Kayele was a household name “I will never forget the hours before midnight, the
in Namibia’s Olympic circles before and shortly after stadium was full, the stadium was a riot of colours
independence. and celebration, the dancing did not stop and that
Kayele was the first Namibian athlete given the was the true soul of Namibia,” he says.
honour of lighting the ‘Freedom Flame’ at the first Kayele was 26 years old at the time.
independence celebrations on 21 March 1990. He recalls lighting the flame in the stadium around
The Namibian met the soft-spoken 56-year-old on midnight, just after the South African flag was
a Sunday morning at a hotel in Windhoek, where lowered, and the new Namibian flag was hoisted.“I
he had arrived from his hometown Tsumeb the day had five minutes to run from the main entrance to
before for a work event. light the flame; all I was worried about was that I
Dressed in a casual brown shirt and sandals, Kayele make it on time,” he says.
takes a seat and introduces himself. “I’m tate Frank,” “It was very cold that day, I was supposed to light
he simply says. the torch and turn around to pay homage to the new
He bursts into a laugh that belies his calm demeanour president [Sam Nujoma], but I was gripped with fear.
when The Namibian asks how he was chosen to light The stadium was so full, I walked off not realising I
the flame that day, as though he was not expecting didn’t do it [pay homage],” he says.
the question. Kayele was never officially recognised for his
“I do not remember where the formal invitation came contribution – there was no special dinner or thank
from, or how I received it,” he says. you note. But he has no hard feelings about it, saying
Although his memory does not serve him well, he he did it for the love of his country. “I just lit the torch
assumes it was because he was a well-known runner and went home,” he says.
at the time. Regardless of the events that night, he says he will
“I just remember that a few days before independence, cherish that moment forever. The magnitude of that
many athletes from all over the country ran with the responsibility still amazes him even today.
flame from their regions, and passed on the flame to The patriotism surpasses all the neglect, he says
the next athlete after every two to three kilometres, with a grin on his face. He is so proud of that moment
until we made it to Windhoek,” he says. that he named his eldest daughter Flamesy, after the
Kayele was the athlete who ran the last mile to the freedom flame. Flamesy was born in April, a monthØ
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the Owambo tradition, the responsibility the country after Namibia’s independence,
of lighting the fire is given to a lucky few. when he took part in the international
“I had lit the freedom flame, we had championships in London.
peace and stability in this country In 1996 Kayele, an ever passionate
for many years, I could not be sportsman, founded the FK Athletic
more proud, he says. Club to train young athletes at
“Although I have always Tsumeb, but it was not successful
wanted to meet tatekulu Sam due to a lack of sponsors and
Nujoma,” he adds with a grin. transport.
These days, he works as a He used to transport the club’s
financial adviser at Old Mutual athletes with his own car to
at Tsumeb, his hometown. different races held out of town.
Born at the copper mining His long-distance running took
town on 12 February 1964, Kayele to places such as New
Kayele was raised at Tsumeb, York, France and Switzerland.
where he still stays with his He won more than 50 gold
family. medals and more than 10
He is married to his wife of championship trophies, and
31 years, Victoria Kayele, and while he was in Germany he won
they have six children – Flamesy, first prize in the Fernsehgarten
Frank junior, Finolia, the twins race, a prestigious event in that
Frieden and Franco, and Fraeser. country.
Kayele instilled the qualities and In 1999, Kayele went to Germany,
discipline of an athlete in his children: where he attended the University of
three of his children are doing athletics, Mainz to study a course in coaching
with Finolia and Frieden running track for two years.
and Franco who is a high jumper. He obtained a diploma in track and
Kayele attended primary school at field.
Opawa Junior Secondary School and Kayele is now fluent in German after
continued at Otjikoto Secondary School, that stay in Germany. Returning from
where he matriculated in 1983. Germany, he had difficulty finding
He officially started his sporting career in paying jobs in the field he studied, so
1984, running distances from 800 metres he opted for a job at the insurance
to the marathon of 42 kilometres. He was company Old Mutual in 1999.
one of the junior qualifiers for the South Isack Hamata, a sports guru,
African championships that year. told The Namibian that Kayele
In 1986, he worked as a sports officer at was born too early.
Consolidated Diamond Mines for three “If he was born a few years
months and then went on to work for before independence he would
the copper mining company Tsumeb Corporation have reached greater heights,” Hamata believes.
Limited as an operator. He explained that Kayele was passionate about
In 1992 he was one of six athletes to represent running and it was only befitting that he was
Namibia at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, bestowed the honour of lighting the freedom
Spain, with his qualifying time for the marathon flame.
event at two hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds. The Namibian newsletter section in 1990 reported
Kayele also qualified to run for South West Africa in an article titled “Namibia’s freedom shines like
on a national level from 1985 until 1990, and was a torch in the night”, that “as the Namibian flag was
once a record holder in the 10 000 metre event raised, cheers rose, tears flowed and women’s
with a national record time of 29 minutes and 57 voices trilled with the traditional and distinctive
seconds. sound of celebration.
He represented Namibia at the cross-country race “An athlete carrying a flaming torch entered the
championships in South Africa as well, and also stadium and ran to light the huge freedom flame.
represented the country in the half marathon and A spectacular fireworks display lit up the night
marathon in the South African championships, sky, completing a grand evening of speeches and
while he was the Namibian champion in the 5 traditional music and dancing, witnessed by heads
000m, 10 000m, 15km, 21km and 42km distances. of state and dignitaries representing most of the
The seasoned athlete would go on to represent world’s countries.” On that momentous night,
Namibia as the first marathon athlete to run Frank Kayele was centre stage. n
11
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INDEPENDENCE JOURNAL WITH CURRENT ADVERTS.indd 11 11/03/2020 11:54 AMNamibia’s human rights
... thirty years and beyond
NAMIBIA’S fundamental human rights are comprised
of the ‘right to life and liberty’, ‘freedom from slavery
and torture’, ‘freedom of opinion and expression’,
‘the right to work and education’, amongst others.
Every Namibian is entitled to these rights. To
unpack and see how Namibia has fared in terms of
embracing these fundamental human rights for the
past 30 years, The Namibian (TN) had an interview
with ombudsman John Walters (JW).
CHARMAINE NGATJIHEUE
TN: How has the country fared in terms of human rights for the past However, Namibia makes up for those rights through
30 years? ratifying a covenant on economic and socio-cultural rights.
JW: Namibia has fared exceptionally well in terms of human
rights, especially if one takes into consideration our difficult TN: There are numerous issues of police brutality reported that have
past. We need to look at where we came from: a past of racial gone unchecked. What should be done about this? Has the ombudsman
discrimination and oppression. launched investigations into this? What is your general assessment?
When we evaluate where we are now, we are not in a perfect JW: My view has always been, if the citizens of the country
Namibia, where there is no discrimination, no inequality, but require protection, the police and army should provide them
no country has a perfect human rights record. with this protection, provided that they (the police and army)
I do not say that to make excuses for my own country, but are properly trained, in terms of how to make an arrest, and
instead, I look at our Constitution and what it promises. when to use fatal force for fleeing persons.
What I miss about the Namibian Constitution is national If that has not happened, I will be the first person to call for
pride. There is no national pride in it, although we have their removal from the streets and that is what I have called
tried for the past few years to faithfully celebrate 9 February for. I am on record saying the police and army should be
as Constitution Day to cultivate national pride of our recalled and receive proper training.
Constitution. We have, however, not received any complaints but we have
What does the Constitution promise us in terms of human advised affected persons to lodge complaints and see if we
rights? can assist them to file civil claims.
• The right to life, the most important right. As it looks now, it seems that our citizens are well informed of
• The right to respect and dignity their rights and have already approached legal practitioners
• Equality and freedom from discrimination to institute claims on their behalf.
• Freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention
• A fair trial, family, children’s rights, property rights TN: What are the challenges still facing Namibia in terms of human
• And most importantly, freedom of speech and rights, 30 years later?
expression, and freedom of religion. JW: We cannot blame the Constitution for not providing our
This is what the constitution promises, and the government schoolchildren with chairs and desks. We cannot blame
has kept these promises. the Constitution for not providing our schoolchildren with
Our courts run independently, although there are some stationery.
glitches such as delays in the finalisation of cases, people We cannot blame our Constitution for some of these things
being detained for long periods and victims of crime getting because it is not self-executing.
frustrated and discouraged with the whole criminal justice The government should be blamed for the shortcomings and
system. Despite these challenges, we still have a guarantee has failed on the promises made in the Constitution.
of an independent judiciary. We have a very well praised Constitution, a liberal and
Another factor is the right to property that has been lasting document.
guaranteed, without a provision in the Constitution that the The success of the Constitution lies in the fact that it has
government would take one’s property. lasted for 30 years with some amendments.
As far as civil and political rights are concerned, we have It is still intact and the institutions formed under the
done exceptionally well. Constitution are still in place. The parliament, the courts,
Unfortunately, our Constitution does not provide for socio- the ombudsman’s office, the Anti- Corruption Commission,
economic rights, which are rights to housing, water, and all those state institutions with specific duties are still
sanitation, land, health, employment and so forth. in place.Ø
12
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PRISTINE PROTECTED AREAS
With the desired outcome of having a diversified and competitive
tourism sector with an increased number of tourists from 1.4
million in 2015 to 1.8 million by the year 2022, Namibia’s National
Development Plan 5 (NDP 5) identifies the Tourism Industry as an
important industry contributing to the country’s economic growth.
Thus, NWR, as the biggest state-owned tourism industry company,
has a significant role to play concerning those mentioned above
national desired goal.
Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) is a legal entity established through
an Act of Parliament, the Namibia Wildlife Resorts Company Act
(Act 3 of 1998). NWR’s mandate is to provide tourism and hospitality
management services in protected areas and national parks of
Namibia. With effect from 16 December 2019, NWR has been
classified as a commercial State-Owned Enterprise as per the Public
Enterprises Governance Act, 2019 (Act No. 1 of 2019).
The administration of the day ran Pre-independence, resorts in
protected areas through the Department of Nature Conservation.
Post-independence, resorts fell under the Ministry of Environment
and Tourism under the Directorate of Tourism. Since the creation of
NWR as a public enterprise in 1998, the structure of the company
has drastically evolved. Notable progress has been recorded on
statutory compliance aspects as well as financial consolidation and
sustainability.
The company now operates 26 facilities (resorts and camps) spread
throughout all corners of the country. The focus has shifted from
reliance on European tourists to a more global market, following
the lead taken by the Namibia Tourism Board in developing new
markets and the domestic tourism leg.
Previously unknown markets, including Asia and the United States,
are being unlocked, and these travellers are coming to Namibia
and the NWR facilities. Conferencing has also been emphasised
which resulted in Gross Barmen, Hardap and Popa Falls being
revamped to cater to modern conferencing needs. NWR offers any
person the opportunity and chance to explore and relax at any of
our facilities - whether you want to take photographs, catch a fish,
explore the country’s cultures, see its wildlife, or sit back and enjoy
its landscapes – NWR are at your service.
Going forward, the company intends to focus on being responsive
to customer needs, continuous improvement in its processes,
systems and procedures as well adherence to standard operating
procedures in line with the tourism and hospitality norms and
standards.
+264 61 285 7200 www.nwr.com.na +264 61 22 4900
INDEPENDENCE JOURNAL WITH CURRENT ADVERTS.indd 13 11/03/2020 11:54 AMTN: Namibia is one of the most unequal nations in the world, with a TN: Namibia adopted a landmark resolution in the protection and
huge gap between the rich and the poor. What are your views in terms promotion of the rights for the members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual
of inequality over the last 30 years? and transgender (LGBT+) communities by the United Nations Human
JW: South Africa and Namibia are the two countries with Rights Council. What are your views on Namibia embracing LGBT+
the highest inequality rates. Where should we place the rights in an independent Namibia? Is there political will?
blame? Should we perhaps place it on past discriminatory JW: I honestly do not understand why people would be
laws? No longer. We have had sufficient time. The calling others derogatory names because of their sexual
Constitution has provided us with laws to address the orientation. The law does not require you to entertain-
negative [experiences] of the past: racism, apartheid and wine and dine-the LGBTQ+ community.
discrimination. All it requires is for you to respect them as fellow human
The Constitution provides for the right to equality and beings.
non-discriminatory practices. Thirty years is enough time If you cannot do that then question yourself as a human
and we must blame ourselves for failing to transform being. People should not make many assertions without
inequality as per the ideals of our Constitution. We did not facts, for instance, regarding being gay as something one
move fast enough, the transformation process in Namibia learns. People do not learn to be gay.
is very slow. The LGBTQ+ communities are entitled to all rights because
they are human beings.
TN: Are women receiving the same support and perks as men, 30 They do not have separate rights, they have human rights,
years later? and these rights require people to respect others as
JW: The biggest concern of inequality is between men and human beings and treat them in a dignified manner.
women. With that said, the old common sodomy law is outdated
Namibia is a welfare state caring for its communities so and Namibia needs to do away with it.
much that the state looks after the welfare of its population. Do not tell me being part of the LGBTQ+ community is
This is one of the biggest achievements compared to other against the Bible, to justify being homophobic.
African states, the fact that we have a provision for old-
age pensionS and grants for people living with disabilities. TN: The rate of youth unemployment is alarming, especially when
However, my view is that we should have what I call fair considering the inequality rate. How can this issue be addressed?
discrimination when it comes to the provision of grants JW: The unemployed youth have opportunities on their own
that we must fairly discriminate on the side of women accord or with the systems placed by the government,
because the women are the mothers looking after from bursaries, or loans from the bank to improve their
children. education and their livelihoods.
Women should, in fact, receive higher grants than men The opportunities in this country to attend formal
because they know better what to do with that money. schooling are there, although education is not free.
They should be first to receive social housing. Another The youth cannot only depend on the government for
issue is our rural women. The resettlement programme employment.
should be able to benefit them; women should be first in I would expect the youth to think beyond and create
line for the provision of land. My call is for these women opportunities for themselves.
to be empowered to get them on equal footing with men. We should do away with overreliance on the government
You know that saying, ‘Educate a woman, and you educate because it cannot create jobs alone.
the whole nation’. When I look at the Employment Equity We should consider and take various steps when we
Commission reports, it is clear that women are still left embark on furthering our education; look at what course
behind and are not in the main sphere of the business to study. Students should not study ‘irrelevant’ courses,
environment, especially in the private sector. We should which cannot provide them with employment afterwards.
encourage women to report these issues.
TN: How is Namibia faring in terms of human rights when compared
TN: What is your office doing to address inequality, racial and any to its peers?
other form of discrimination and hate speech? JW: In terms of human rights, Namibia is faring better
JW: We are busy with a new law meant to address racial than other countries in Africa.
discrimination and hate speech, in collaboration with the We see so many people flocking to Namibia to seek solace,
Ministry of Justice. The new law is called ‘the prohibition but we do not see Namibians fleeing from the country.
of discrimination and hate speech bill’. Now what we are Their rights are not violated here.
doing is to see how quickly we can have it. People come to Namibia to obtain citizenship, permanent
It was on my recommendation that the justice ministry residence and immediate domicile because their stay in
contracted a consultant to draft the bill for us. I have also this country is comfortable.
recommended that we have an equality court or tribunal. In my opinion, Namibia is the best country to live in. We,
This is because if one is a victim of racial discrimination, as citizens, are entitled to criticise our government when
hate speech and harassment, the criminal justice system it is failing. In the same vein, we should give credit where
discouraged them from filing a police case and going to it is due.
court, basically avoiding long procedures. It would be Another reason why Namibia has fared well is our freedom
an informal and cost-effective process and you will have of speech that is widely practised in the country, as well
simple and instant judgement. as the peace and tranquillity that exist in the country. n
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1153/05/03/2020
HERE’S TO
30 YEARS
OF BRILLIANCE
Here’s to honouring the heroes and heroines whose
sacrifices radiate through the freedom we enjoy today.
To working together in building a resilient and thriving
nation. Here’s to living up to the promise of diamonds
making a brilliant difference in the lives of each and
every Namibian.
Here's to a Happy Independence Day!
INDEPENDENCE JOURNAL WITH CURRENT ADVERTS.indd 15 11/03/2020 11:55 AM30
FACTS
AS the country celebrates the big 30, The Namibian hereby teases readers’
brains with 30 interesting facts and titbits of information. Let’s see how much
of this you actually knew?
Compiled by: Okeri Ngutjinazo
ABOUT NAMIBIA 8 Birthplace of the Windhoek Declaration
The Windhoek Declaration is a statement
of press freedom principles put together by
1
African newspaper journalists at a gatherig in
Population of nearly 2,6 million. 1991 in Windhoek.
The gathering marked the beginning of a
2
solidarity movement of media practioners
Name and the emergence of media development
The country is called Namibia and not ‘Nambia’. The organisations across Africa.
name Namibia is derived from the Namib Desert. The
name Namib is of Nama origin, meaning “vast place”.
Before independence, the country was known as German
South West Africa, then as South West Africa.
9 First woman PM
Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is the
fourth and current prime minister of
Namibia, in office since 21 March 2015.
3 Land of the Brave
The national anthem, ‘Namibia, Land of the Brave’ was
She is also the first woman to serve as
prime minister of Namibia.
10
adopted in December 1991. It was written by Namibian
music composer Axali Doëseb.
Oldest desert, highest dunes
The Namib Desert has existed for over 55
4
million years. The desert is large, stretching for
Flag 2 000 km along the Atlantic coasts of Angola,
The designs of three Namibians –Theo Namibia and South Africa. Sossusvlei is one
Jankowski of Rehoboth, Don Stevenson of the country’s most iconic landscapes. The
of Windhoek and Ortrud Clay of Lüderitz dunes of Sossusvlei are some of the highest
were combined to form the Namibian in the world, and the tallest is a whopping 325
national flag, adopted on 2 February 1990. metres high, known as ‘Big Daddy’.
5 Constitution
The country’s Constitution was adopted on 9 February
1990. The Constitution of Namibia was constructed by
11 Underground lake
Dragon’s Breath Cave is a cave located 46
kilometres north-west of Grootfontein in
the members of the Constituent Assembly, following the the Otjozondjupa region. It was discovered
November 1989 elections. in 1986 and is named for the moist air rising
from its entrance. The cave contains the
world’s largest non-subglacial underground
6
lake, with an area of almost two hectares.
Banknotes
12 Canyon
Namibia has the second largest canyon in the
The first design of Namibia’s banknotes dates back to world, the Fish River Canyon, located close to the
1993, when N$10, N$50 and N$100 banknotes were border with South Africa.
introduced.
Large waterfall 13
Ruacana Falls are waterfalls located near Ruacana on the
7
Kunene River in northern Namibia. The waterfall is 120
Unesco Heritage Sites metres high and 700 metres wide in full flood. It is among
Namibia has two world heritage sites: The the largest waterfalls in Africa.
14
Namib Sand Sea and Twyfelfontein.
The Namib Sand Sea is the only coastal desert
in the world that includes extensive dune 800-year-old tree
fields influenced by fog. Twyfelfontein is a The Ombalantu Baobab Tree and Heritage Centre is an
site of ancient rock engravings in the Kunene 800-year-old hollowed-out baobab tree. The tree is large
region of north-western Namibia. enough and can accomodate 35 people inside. It has been
used as a church and post office.
16
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Namibia has an average of 300 days of sunshine
22 Stargazing
In 2012, the NamibRand Nature Reserve was
selected by the International Dark Sky Association
annually. The climate is generally arid, which as an official dark sky reserve on account of its low
means the potential evaporation is higher than light pollution and cloudless night skies.
23
precipitation, which again results in very low
humidity.
Hoba meteorite
The Hoba meteorite is found on the farm Hoba West near
16
Grootfontein in the Otjozondjupa region. Consisting mainly
Conservation first of iron and nickel, it is the world’s largest known single
more than 42% of Namibia’s surface area is under meteorite, weighing an estimated 60 tonnes.
conservation management. This includes national
parks and reserves, communal and commercial
conservancies, community forests and private
nature reserves.
Namibia was the first African country to
Meteorite 24
The Gibeon meteorite is the result of the most extensive
meteorite shower known on Earth. Most fragments fell just
incorporate the protection of the environment south-east of Gibeon. To date, some 120 specimens with a
into its Constitution. The government has given weight of almost 25 tonnes have been recorded.
communities the rights to manage their wildlife
through communal conservancies.
25 Uranium mining
17
The Rössing uranium mine is the longest-running
Oldest desert plant and one of the largest open pit uranium mines in the
The Welwitschia mirabilis is a plant which is world. It is located in the Namib Desert near Arandis,
endemic to the Namib Desert. Named after 70 kilometres from the coastal town of Swakopmund.
Friedrich Welwitsch who ‘discovered’ Its uranium deposits were discovered in 1928.
the plant in 1859, some of its
specimens are estimated First diamond found
to be between 1 000 and The first diamond in Namibia was
Highest mountain
1 500 years old.
26 found in 1908 by a young railway
worker Zacharias Lewala. He picked
18
up a large shiny stone while on duty near the country’s
The Brandberg, “the burning mountain”, is southern coastal town of Lüderitz.
Namibia’s highest mountain. It is located in former
27
Damaraland, now Erongo, in the north-western
Namib Desert, near the coast, and covers an area
Town built on diamonds
Oranjemund is known as the town built
of approximately 650 km².
on diamonds. When the diamond industry
19 Largest cheetah population
Namibia is home to the world’s
was in its prime, the mining company De
Beers provided a luxurious desert island
for its 15 000 inhabitants.
28
largest remaining cheetah
population. Cheetahs can reach a
speed of up to 60 miles
Dinosaur tracks
Otjihaenamaparero farm, near Mount Etjo, 200km north of
(about 97 km) per hour in three
Windhoek, is home to fossilised animal tracks made 150
seconds.
20
million to 200 million years ago, including a set of dinosaur
footprints.
Wild horses
29
The wild horses of the Namib
Desert are the world’s last Concentration camps
desert-dwelling horses. There are currently 86 The Shark Island concentration camp or ‘Death
wild horses, up from 73 last year, including 15 Island’, located on Shark Island at Lüderitz, was one
foals. The herd comprises 40 stallions and 31 of five Namibian concentration camps used by the
mares. German colonial authorities during the Herero
21
and Nama genocide of 1904–1908.
Canoe trip between SA and Namibia Hunter-gatherers
The Orange River is about 2 090 kilometres long,
The earliest known inhabitants of Namibia are the San,
which makes it the longest river in southern Africa.
30
who belong to the Khoisan peoples. Generally short in
It also acts as a border between Namibia and South
stature, they have light yellowish-brown skins, while their
Africa, flowing westward to the Atlantic Ocean.
language, which differs among the different groups, is
characterised by numerous clicking sounds.
17
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INDEPENDENCE JOURNAL WITH CURRENT ADVERTS.indd 17 11/03/2020 11:55 AMGIVING WINGS TO NAMIBIA’S DREAMS
As Namibians work towards our country’s in new countries, to relax on tropical beaches or
dream of being a prosperous, developed nation, visit friends and family. As the global economy
grows and become ever more linked, aviation
Air Namibia continues to give wings to is the factor that brings people together. It is
Namibia’s dreams. the driver and enabler of a country’s stability,
prosperity and future growth.
Namibia is a uniquely beautiful country which
is globally rated highly as a sought after tourist In the same manner, Air Namibia’s growth,
destination. Increasingly, one hears Namibia sustainability and general well-being is
being referred to as a ‘boutique country’ — a intrinsically interwoven with that of Namibia. If
country that offers visitors a kaleidoscope of Namibia prospers, Air Namibia prospers. If Air
remarkable experiences, all of them distinctively Namibia prospers, Namibia prospers. It is as
‘Namibian’. With a continuously improving and simple as that.
evolving tourism industry, there is no reason
why Namibia cannot realise its aim of becoming
a preferred ‘once-in- a-lifetime’ destination.
Indeed, the Land of the Brave has many brave
people who are not afraid to dream big!
Aviation has been described as ‘a business of
freedom’ — it is an industry that consists of
Although Air Namibia has over 70 years’ a network of airlines, airports and air traffic
(since 1946) experience in scheduled and control organisations that link the world’s major
non-scheduled commercial passenger and cities and small communities 24 hours a day
cargo operations, the past three (3) decades with very advanced aircraft.
marked a new era for the Namibian National
Airline. As the country (Namibia) gained Since its establishment, Air Namibia has
its independence, Namib Air was renamed enabled people to build business relationships
“Air Namibia.” and grow local economies, to have adventures
CONNECTING NAMIBIA TO THE WORLD
Namibia is recognised globally as one of the domestic points within Namibia, the immediate resulted in massive cost reductions in terms of
most popular tourism destination and in 2014 regional markets of South Africa (Cape Town, station costs, crew hotels and meal allowances.
was voted as the fastest growing tourism Durban & Johannesburg), Zimbabwe (Harare,
destination in the world by the New York Victoria Falls), Zambia (Lusaka) and Botswana The Windhoek – Frankfurt route is Air Namibia’s
Tourism Industry. In line with the Government (Gaborone). flagship route creating easy access for European
of Namibia’s vision to make Namibia a global visitors to our country, and for Namibian
destination, Air Namibia offers the highest Following Namibia’s Independence, long- travellers on various missions to Europe and
standards of comfort and convenience, making haul services to Europe were introduced in beyond. The route transports business men
us the first choice of inbound travellers. During the early 1990s with the Windhoek- Frankfurt and women, tourists, politicians, dignitaries and
the past 30 years, we carried in excess of 8 route launched in 1991 and the Windhoek- e v e r y day citizens between
million passengers to and from Namibia. London route the following year. The London- Namibia and Europe. Key markets
Gatwick route was discontinued in 2008 due to f o r travellers into
“
Over the past three decades, the airline duplication of costs, and opted to consolidate
positioned itself as a niche carrier serving all European operations into Frankfurt which During the past 30
years, we carried in
excess of 8 million
”
passengers to and from
Namibia.
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