| 1990 |
Prior to
independence, education in Namibia was characterised by inequality and
fragmentation. Apartheid in education, training and culture led to
differentiated access to employment and hence to wages. Learner-teacher
ratios varied from 13 to 1 in schools under the "Administration for Whites"
to 37 to 1 for schools under the "Administration for Ovambos". Inadequate
provision for teachers and buildings meant large classes, often in excess of
50 learners. Books and teaching aids were also in short supply. The result
of such severe limitation was a high drop-out rate and frequent repetition
of grades. To change this situation is only one of the numerous challenges
facing the incoming government of independent Namibia.
The diamond mine of Auchas at the Oranje River is brought into production. |
| 01.01. |
On New Year’s Eve
the Constituent Assembly votes unanimously for Namibia to become independent
on 21 March 1990 (officially announced on 29.01.1990). This symbolic date
must be seen as a remembrance of the occurrences in Sharpeville, South
Africa, in March 1960. |
| 10.01. |
TransNamib sells 40
locomotives, without informing the newly created Ministry of Works,
Transport and Communication. This sale marks the beginning of TransNamib’s
erosion of assets which leads ten years later to the financial problems of
the Namibian railway company.
South Africa unilaterally closes the border post at Mata Mata, the entrance
point from Namibia into the South African Kalahari Gemsbok Park. |
| 02.02. |
A national flag and
symbols are adopted for the new nation.
 |
| 07.02. |
After the
appointment of the Shadow Cabinet on 21.12.1989, a number of government
ministers and senior officials attend the Tripartite Working Group on the
Bushmen Issue which was established in December 1989. They plead to the
Bushmen (San or Khoesan) that they are welcome to stay in Namibia and that
they could contribute as citizens, that their land rights would be
protected, that they could move and settle anywhere they want in Namibia and
that the new Constitution would fully protect them. Sam Nujoma reiterates
this pledge by a letter to the Bushmen groups. But, the Bushmen begin to
realise that they cannot any more expect their former high salaries paid by
the South Africans and that they would be better off -so many believe - in
South Africa. |
| 08.02. |
The designated
Minister for Finance, Otto Herrigel, announces in his first official speech
that independent Namibia will follow a pragmatic economic course. Namibia
intends to stay for at least three years in the Southern African Customs
Union (SACU). Furthermore he proposes the establishment of an independent
Central Bank (later Bank of Namibia). |
| 09.02. |
The Constituent
Assembly unanimously adopts a new Constitution. This symbolically and
materially ends an era of colonial oppression and resistance against foreign
rule. It is adopted at an outdoor ceremony before the facade of the
Tintenpalast. This is covered by a huge banner reciting the Preamble of
the Constitution. Article 133 of the new Constitution provides that the
Constituent Assembly would become the first National Assembly of Namibia,
the first president being the person elected to that office in the
Constituent Assembly.
Windhoek Municipality plans to celebrate Windhoek’s Centenary anger those
people who believe the festivities would be honouring colonialism, as
Windhoek is much older than hundred years. SWAPO declares that the
liberation movement would have nothing to do with the Centenary
celebrations. This development leads later to the cancellation of the
planned Centenary celebrations. |
| 14.02. |
The South African
Defence Force (SADF) asks the ex-soldiers of the Bushmen (San or Khoesan)
military units whether or not they want to move to South Africa. A vote is
taken in each Bushmen village. Overall, 327 want to go to South Africa, 77
to Botswana and 255 would like to remain in Namibia. Sam Nujoma strongly
rejects the idea of relocating Bushmen of Namibian origin, but the first
group is relocated to South Africa on 20.02.1990. Shadow Minister for Land,
Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Marco Hausiku, declares that it would be
better if a period of time is allowed to elapse during which the Bushmen
could think the matter over after the intense South African propaganda to
which they had been exposed.
The Home Affairs Minister-Designate, Hifikepunye Pohamba, with just a few
weeks of UNTAG’s mandate to run, declares that SWAPO has approached seven
countries (Canada, Germany, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sweden),
seeking the continuance of their police, now members of UNCIVPOL, after the
end of the mandate. Ghana, India, Nigeria and Pakistan agree to provide
police support for a time after independence. As regards the establishment
of a new National Army, there is a political need for a military nucleus by
independence day. Such a nucleus of the future Namibian Defence Force (NDF)
is in fact brought together and with, the help of the Kenyan battalion,
given training by 21.03.1990. |
| 16.02. |
The Constituent
Assembly unanimously elects Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma President of the future
independent state. |
| 20.02. |
The Deputy Minister
designate for Works, Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, travels to
Luanda/Angola, to prepare an agreement in order to rebuild the destroyed
road from Oshikango at the border between Namibia and Angola to Lubango and
Namibe (Namibe-Corridor). This is followed by a further visit, together with
the Angolan Ambassador to Namibia, Bento Ribiero, in July to finalise the
agreement. |
| 27.02. |
Dierks announces
policy guidelines for transport and communications for the independent
Namibia. Firstly the transport and telecommunications infrastructure between
the two Namibias (first world and third world Namibia) has to be balanced by
the establishment of engineering infrastructure in the so far neglected
parts of the country, especially Ovamboland. Secondly the one-sided
transport link to South Africa (noose or lifeline transport situation) has
to expanded by the creation of new east-west-transport corridors to the
landlocked neighbours in the east, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe (Trans
Kalahari and Trans Caprivi highways) and the construction of the missing
link between Keetmanshoop and Lüderitz, the Aus to Goageb highway.
Environmental and social issues have to be brought into the future planning
process of transport infrastructure. The unemployment has to be eased by the
application of labour-based construction methods. Furthermore efficiency in
the transport sector will be increased by deregulation and competition as
well as a road sector reform based on privatisation. The reintegration of
the Walvis Bay enclave will be a top priority for the new government.
Furthermore a commercial pilot training college is planned for Keetmanshoop.
As far as any future transcontinental air services of Namib Air (the
subsequent Air Namibia) are concerned, Dierks supports such an undertaking
only with the back up of a strong international airline partner which has
the essential resources which Namib Air lacks now and in the foreseeable
future. He opposes Namib Air’s new flight between Windhoek and
Frankfurt/Germany without a strong airline partnership, although, for
political reasons, South African Airways (SAA) cannot be allowed to continue
to use the traffic rights on this route. Therefore, there is currently no
alternative but to allow Namib Air to operate this route. |
| 28.02. |
The !Kung Traditional
Authority appoints its Chief, ||’Aiha (traditional title) John N.
Arnold in the Omatako Valley, followed by the Ju|’hoansi Traditional
Authority, which elects the traditional leader, ||’Aiha Tsamkxao #Oma,
in Tsumkwe on 05.07. |
| End February |
After an official
visit to Angola (21.01.) Nujoma calls on Congo, Algeria, Libya and Kuwait to
thank these countries for the support for Namibia’s liberation struggle. |
| 05.03. |
Angola’s Foreign
Minister, Van Dunem, reiterates Angola’s concern over the porosity of the
Namibian frontier. He speaks of the efforts to negotiate an end to Angola’s
war with UNITA and to bring about national reconciliation in Angola.
However, UNITA is increasing its military activities.
Meanwhile, the Angolan government is very much aware of developments in
South Africa. Van Dunem reports, that SA’s Foreign Minister, Pik Botha, had
mentioned to him that South Africa wants to establish conditions for peace
and stability in all southern Africa countries. Apartheid, Botha had
said, has been "a very serious mistake", and the whole system of
"white" hegemony has to be abolished very quickly. |
| 07.03 |
At Omega (West
Caprivi), members from the Tripartite Working Group on the Bushmen Issue
meet with Bushmen (San or Khoesan) elders, then with about 150 ex-soldiers
of the Bushmen. The SWAPO delegation leader, Peter Naholo, says he has
brought a message from President Nujoma, personally, of reconciliation,
protection and opportunities for all, without discrimination. The Bushmen
should recall that South Africa has its own problems, which are going to
deepen. He says: "It’s for you to decide. We are not forcing you one way
or other. But, you must understand that if you decide to go, there will be
no coming back". Naholo advise them to stay in Namibia in which they are
genuinely welcome, rather than depart for some foreign country. In reply,
one Bushmen leader says that they had already taken their decision. They
feel they are being pressured. They have chosen their future one year ago,
and would not change their minds each time somebody visits Omega. At the
Bushmen village of Mangetti Dune the same routine and much of the same
discussion takes place. The leaders, when asked why the Bushmen want to
leave their native country, refer to incidents of discrimination and
hostility towards Bushmen in Namibia. Because they have decided to leave,
they have sold their houses and cattle, and there is now only one way to go
- south. |
| 12./13.03. |
1 340 Bushmen and
their dependants - and one day later - 585 leave for Kimberley in South
Africa. The move will be complete on 16.03.1990, five days before Namibia’s
independence. |
| 15.03. |
The Namibian
Department of Post and Telecommunications proposes the issuing of a set of
stamps (designed in South Africa), depicting the Namibian independence. This
issue nearly causes a stir because the Deputy Minister designate for Works,
Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, rejects the stamp design because
the liberation struggle leading to the hard won independence is not
pictured. He insists on one of the three stamps on a motive of open hands
releasing a dove of peace with some broken chains around the wrists. This
again is turned down by the South African Government. Only after a threat by
Dierks to make the issue public and not to allow the publishing of the
independence stamps, Dierks’ design is accepted and the stamps released. |
| 21.03. |
The year of
Namibia’s independence brings historic rains to the country, one of the best
rainy seasons in living memory. Here, rain means not only growth and
fertility: it means god is watching over you.
Today the Republic of Namibia is born, with Sam Nujoma its first President.
Nujoma is sworn in by UN Secretary-General, Javier Péres de Cuéllar. 30 000
spectators in the Windhoek Sport Stadium view the great event. The
independence celebrations are witnessed by representatives of 147 countries
including 20 heads of state. Extraordinary sights are to be seen. Leaders
meet whom international politics had previously precluded from official
meetings - FW De Klerk meets with Yassir Arafat, Kenneth Kaunda and the
great South African leader, just released from prison, Nelson Mandela who
makes a precisely timed arrival, immediately before proceedings begin. At
the beginning of the proceedings turmoil erupts. Security people push some
Prime Ministers into their seats. The new British High Commissioner lands on
the lap of Karen Dierks. The turbulence results in some delays. Independence
is delayed by 15 minutes. And the new proud flag of independent Namibia
doesn’t fly because there is no breeze, and the South African flag droops
limply, just as does the Namibian flag, as it goes up.
A corner stone of the national policy of the new independent Namibia is the
policy of national reconciliation. The policy seeks to address the
consequences of the legacy of Namibia’s violent past, dating back to German
colonial times, the South African oppression and effects of the apartheid
system together with human rights violations committed during the liberation
struggle. This policy of national reconciliation will also redress economic
disparities in order to achieve the fruits of the Namibian independence.
The 78 members (including six appointed members by the President) of the
National Assembly of the Republic of Namibia are sworn in. Mosé Penaani
Tjitendero is the elected Speaker of the lower house of Parliament. |
| 22.03. |
The last South
African Administrator-General Louis Pienaar is given an official farewell by
President Sam Nujoma. |
| 28.03. |
UNTAG’s mandate is
coming to an end. When it pulls back from its 236 premises, it does so with
remarkable speed. |
| 31.03. |
In order to protect
her (by foreign nations) depleted Atlantic Ocean fishing grounds, Namibia
pleads to the International Commission for South East Atlantic Fisheries (ICSEAF)
to urge the member states to withdraw all foreign fishing trawlers from
Namibian territorial waters. Subsequently Spain informs the European
Community that this move risks 6 000 employment possibilities on Spanish
fishing trawlers. Countries like Spain, Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union and
the Scandinavian countries try intensively to obtain Namibian fishing
quotas.
The value of the pre-independence hake catch can give some idea of the value
of the depleted Namibian fish. From 1965 to 1989, according to the declared
catch reflected in International Commission for the South-East Atlantic
Fisheries (ICSEAF) statistics, 10 664 600 tonnes of hake were
removed from Namibian waters, valued at 1996 prices at US$ 15 084 million.
Virtually nothing of this accrued to Namibia.
However, the combination of favourable environmental conditions and the
implementation of a sound Namibian fishing policy for the restoration of the
stocks, brings about a marked improvement in the fish stocks in the first
part of the 1990s. |
| 01.04. |
Namibia is admitted
to the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) as the
tenth member state. |
| 10.04. |
The Minister Foreign
Affairs, Theo-Ben Gurirab, announces that Namibia will follow a pragmatic
approach against South Africa but will not send an ambassador as yet. The
question of the reintegration of the Walvis Bay enclave will not be taken up
in the moment. Unofficially it is agreed that Namibia will have free access
to the Port of Walvis Bay. |
| 12.04. |
South Africa
announces the appointment of a permanent diplomatic representative in
Windhoek. |
| 17.04. |
In UN SC Resolution
652 the UN Security Council resolves to recommend to the General Assembly to
admit the Republic of Namibia as member to the world body. |
| 17./19.04. |
President Sam Nujoma
visits Zimbabwe. |
| 23.04. |
The General Assembly
accepts with GA Resolution S-18/1 (1990) Namibia as 160<sup>th</sup> member
of the organisation. |
| 26.04. |
Namib Air
inaugurates its first transcontinental flight from Windhoek to Frankfurt,
Germany. |
| 27.04 |
The first
Parliamentarian Question in the history of the new National Assembly (Member
Barney Barnes of the DTA) deals with a speech of the Deputy Minister for
Works, Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, before the International
Tourism Fair in Berlin during March. Dierks demands a pragmatic attitude by
South Africa in the question of the reintegration of the Walvis Bay enclave.
Otherwise Namibia would refuse traffic rights for South African planes in
the Namibian air space. Although the speech sparks sharp criticism in the
ranks of the opposition parties, a wide range of Namibians applaud Dierks'
sentiments. He is fully exonerated by both the Prime Minister, Hage Geingob
and the Minister of Works, Transport and Communication, Richard
Kapelwa-Kabajani. |
| 01.05. |
President Sam Nujoma
announces that the fight against unemployment enjoys top priority. He
further declares the future establishment of a mixed economy between state
owned and private enterprises. |
| 05.05. |
The Namibian
Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) comes into being as successor of the South
West African Broadcasting Corporation (SWABC). First Managing Director is
Nahum Gorelick. His deputy is Piet Coetzer of the past SWABC. |
| 19.05. |
A Border Security
Agreement is concluded between Namibia and Angola. A Joint Border Commission
will supervise the agreement. This agreement is expanded by a Joint
Cooperation Agreement for the Development and Utilisation of the Kunene
River Basin (18.09.). |
| 23.05. |
The National
Assembly adopts the Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone of Namibia
Bill. This legislation creates Exclusive Economic Zone (200 Miles) along the
Atlantic coast will protect Namibia’s fishing interests. |
| 28./31.05. |
Negotiations take
place between the governments of Namibia (Minister of Education, Culture and
Sport, Nahas Angula) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR)(Minister of
Education, Prof. Meyer) in Berlin. The topic is the return of several
hundred Namibian children who found refuge in the GDR during the liberation
war (the so-called "GDR-Children"). 291 are school children in a school (Schule
der Freundschaft) at Staßfurt near Magdeburg. 134 are pre-school
children from the SWAPO children hostel at Bellin near Güstrow. Eight are
small children. The children are accompanied by 29 Namibian adults. |
| 29.05. |
The Namibian
Government maintains close ties with other African independence movements.
Consequently Namibia takes up diplomatic relations with the Algeria
supported Frente Polisario. |
| 01.06. |
The Organisation for
African Unity (OAU) establishes a permanent diplomatic mission in Windhoek. |
| 04.06. |
During the first
session of the National Assembly Prime Minister Hage Geingob supports a
parliamentarian motion by the DTA and other opposition parties to establish
an All-Party Commission to investigate the fate of SWAPO detainees which
allegedly are still being held in Angola (the so-called "spy-crisis").
However, the Commission is not successful in completing its task. Therefore,
at the beginning of November the Prime Minister proposes a motion in the
National Assembly to ask the International Red Cross to look into the
matter.
Namibia becomes a full member of the Tripartite Agreement between South
Africa, Angola and Cuba. |
| 05.06. |
A crisis looms in
the Rehoboth area. The former South African Policy of Apartheid is
manifested in a demand by the political leadership of the Baster, under the
Baster Captain Diergaardt, for autonomy for the Rehoboth area. During an
unofficial Referendum, 84,1% of 9 289 Baster voters call for a far reaching
autonomy and special rights for the Baster. The conflict escalates because
Diergaardt refuses to vacate his official residence. A High Court decision
(25.09.) influences the Baster to accept the court ruling. A visit of
President Nujoma on 03.11. defuses the situation. |
| 11.06. |
The Navachab gold
mine comes into operation. It is envisaged to mine two tons of gold
annually. The mine is run by the Erongo Mining and Exploration Company Ltd.
Further shareholders are the De Beers Consolidated Mines, the Anglo-American
Company, the Canadian Metal Mining Corporation (a subsidiary company of the
German Metallgesellschaft). Rössing Uranium concludes an agreement
with a French concern in order to mine 5 200 tons Uranium Oxide between 1995
and 2002. In spite of this Rössing Uranium has to curb its production to 75%
of its capacity. The tin production at the Uis Tin Mine is abandoned due to
low tin world market prices. Also Tsumeb Corporation Limited (TCL) announces
losses due to low copper prices. |
| 12.06./15.06. |
The Southern African
Transport and Communications Commission (SATCC) (Maputo/
Mozambique) of the Southern African Development Coordination
Conference (SADCC)(founded 1980 at Gaborone, Botswana), initiated by the
Namibian Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Klaus
Dierks, approves at Lilongwe, Malawi, road projects for the Trans Kalahari
and Trans Caprivi Highways, a Zambezi Bridge between Namibia (Katima Mulilo)
and Zambia (Sesheke), the Aus to Goageb highway and the Ovambo Road Network
Master Plan. After the meeting the ten SADCC Ministers of Transport are
received by President Hastings Kamuzu Banda in Blantyre. |
| 21.06. |
Shots are fired by
unknown offenders on the houses of the Ministers of Defence, Peter
Mweshihange and Home Affairs, Lucas Pohamba. |
| 21./22.06. |
The International
Donor Conference for Namibia takes place in New York. This conference is
awaited with high expectations, also to address the expected budget deficit
inherited by the SA Colonial Administration to the tune of R 500 Million.
The pledged US $ 200 Million is not meeting the Namibian expectations.
President Nujoma appeals to the conference to grade Namibia as "Least
Developed Country", in spite of the relatively high average per-capita
income of US $ 1 044 (1988), and in the light of the extreme skew income
relations between the rich, mainly "white" and the poor, mainly "black"
income groups.
Namibia joins the European Community sponsored Lomé Agreement and gets
subsequently access to development aid to R 60 million by the European
Community. Rand 14 million is provided as budget assistance and a further R
14 million for five development projects. Namibia also becomes a member of
the European Community sponsored African/ Caribbean/Pacific member states. A
compromise is found in the allocation of an beef export quota (13 000 tons
annually with 10 500 tons for 1991) to the European Community. |
| End June |
The Kenyan battalion
of the former UNTAG is replaced by the first Namibian infantry battalion.
This marks the beginning of the Namibian Defence Force which reaches 5 000
soldiers by the end of 1990. In the spirit of the policy of national
reconciliation , the battalion consists of members of the former PLAN and
the former SWATF forces. In the same vain also members of the former
colonial administration and the SWA Police are kept in the new Namibian
Civil Service.
Namibia invites the Secretary General of the African National Congress
(ANC), Alfred Nzo. |
| 30.06. |
The newspaper The
Namibian reports that 500 "white" extremists of the former colonial
dispensation plan to overthrow the new Namibian Government. On 05.08. a bomb
is thrown on the Namibian. Later (end of August, beginning of
September and on 12.10.) ten "white" men are arrested. Before the court case
for high treason can be opened on 08.10., most of them manage to flee to
South Africa. |
| 06.07. |
The Minister for
Finance, Otto Herrigel tables the Budget for the Financial Year 1990/91. The
budget makes provision for an expenditure of R 2 576 million against an
expected revenue of R 2 336 million. No tax increases are envisaged. The
major share of the total budget goes to the Ministry of Works, Transport and
Communication (R 550 million), followed by the Ministry of Education,
Culture and Sports (R 469 million), the Ministry of Finance (R 379,5
million) and the Ministry of Health and Social Services (R 352 million). The
biggest part of the capital expenditure of R 261 million goes to the
Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication, mainly for road projects as
proposed and planned by the Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and
Communication, Klaus Dierks, (Trans Kalahari and Trans Caprivi highways, the
Aus to Goageb highway and a new surfaced road between Gibeon Station to
Gibeon). |
| 17.07. |
The Cabinet of the
Republic of Namibia approves new consolidated political and administrative
regional structures for the country. According to the recommendations of the
Delimitation Commission, chaired by Gerhard Tötemeyer, Namibia will be
subdivided into 13 regions. These regions form the base to select the second
chamber of Parliament, the National Council. The elections have to take
place within two years. For the Region of Caprivi the Cabinet decides on the
name Liambezi. Regional maps and plans are successively printed, but
some tribal complaints result in the later retention of the colonial name
Caprivi. Some regional names, as suggested by the Commission, are rejected
by Cabinet. Mopane Region becomes Omusati, Maroela becomes Ohangwena and
Waterberg makes headway for the Otjozondjupa Region. During the same cabinet
session, Namibia’s new national anthem is accepted which was written and
composed by Axali Doeseb: "Namibia land of the brave - Freedom fight we
have won - Glory to their bravery - Whose blood waters our freedom". On
11.11.1991 Namibia’s national anthem is adopted by the National Assembly
(National Anthem of the Republic of Namibia Bill).
The Cabinet also approves the opening of 18 Namibian Embassies and
Diplomatic Missions, of which nine will be established in the near future.
These include High Commissions in London, Lagos and Lusaka, Embassies in
Moscow, Washington, Addis Ababa and Stockholm, a Permanent Mission to the
United Nations in New York and a Permanent Mission to the European Union in
Brussels. Further Diplomatic Missions are envisaged in Berlin (GDR)(the
Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, has
already received a principal assurance from the Government of the Federal
Republic of Germany, that Namibia could obtain the former SWAPO Embassy in
Berlin, Wilhelmsruhe for a nominal price but this is
later not followed up by the Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Andreas
#Guibeb), Paris, Harare, Beijing, Algiers, New Delhi,
Tokyo and Luanda. By this time Namibia already has signed more than 100
agreements on the establishment of Diplomatic missions in Namibia (21
credentials of Ambassadors and High Commissioners are received to date). |
| 23.07. |
President Ketumile
Masire from Botswana is the first head of state on a state visit to Namibia.
His top priority is the speedy completion of the Trans Kalahari Highway. The
Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, hands
over to him his planning study for a Trans Kalahari Railway Line from South
Africa via Botswana to the Port of Walvis Bay. |
| 01.08. |
In subsequence of
the Cabinet Decision dated 17.07. the Government appoints Regional
Commissioners for the 13 regions. In the spirit of the policy of national
reconciliation members of other political parties and former SWAPO detainees
are also appointed.
The Namibian Central Bank (later Bank of Namibia) is established with a
founding capital of R 40 Million. The Minister for Finance, Otto Herrigel,
announces that Namibia will get her own currency (Namibia Dollar) within two
years. |
| 02./05.08. |
President Sam Nujoma
visits Zambia. |
| 03.08. |
TransNamib changes
the name "Namib Air" into "Air Namibia". |
| 26./31.08. |
The "GDR-Children"
are brought back to Namibia. They are accompanied by two members of the
last, democratically elected GDR Parliament (Volkskammer): Anne-Katrin
Glase (Christian Democratic Party (CDU)) and Jürgen Leskien (Partei
Demokratischer Sozialisten (PDS)). The return is organised by the
Repatriation, Resettlement and Reconstruction Committee (RRR Committee). The
children are initially accommodated in the Peoples Primary School at
Katutura (Windhoek). After the re-unification of Germany (03.10.1990)
assists the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in the education
of the "GDR-Children". |
| 27./30.08. |
Prime Minister Hage
Geingob visits Mozambique. |
| Beginning September |
The
Interessengemeinschaft Deutschsprachiger Südwester (IG) holds its 13<sup>th</sup>
annual congress. The IG is now named Interessengemeinschaft
Deutschsprechender für Namibia (IG). |
| 03./07.09. |
President Sam Nujoma
visits Botswana. |
| 11.09. |
The UN Council for
Namibia dissolves itself. |
| 18.09. |
President Nujoma
meets Angola’s President, dos Santos, in Lubango, Angola. |
| 20.09. |
Nujoma announces
that an attractive investment climate will be created and that a pilot
training college is planned for Keetmanshoop by British Aerospace (as
initiated by the Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communication,
Klaus Dierks). The declared Exclusive Economic Zone (200 Miles) along the
Atlantic coast will protect Namibia’s fishing interests and benefits the
economy. |
| 27.09. |
During the 45.
Session of the UN General Assembly President Nujoma renews his appeal from
the International Donor Conference for Namibia in New York (21. to 22.06.)
to grant Namibia "Least Developed Country" status. Subsequently several
countries grant donor assistance. Germany becomes with US $ 60 Million the
biggest donor, followed by Sweden (US $ 16 Million), Norway (US $ 11
Million), Finland (US $ 10 Million), the USA (US $ 10 Million) and Denmark
(US $ 6 Million). Other countries like Great Britain, the Netherlands,
France, Italy and South Africa pledge various levels of donor assistance.
The organisational framework of Namibia’s donor assistance is aggravated
because the National Planning Commission is still in its infancy. |
| 23.10. |
The former Chief of
the Secret Service of PLAN, Solomon "Jesus" Hawala becomes the Commander of
the Namibian Defence Force, after the Namibian Cabinet had disapproved such
a move in August. Due to his involvement into the treatment of former SWAPO
detainees in Angola, the Council of Churches in Namibia (CCN) criticises the
appointment. The NUNW supports Hawala’s engagement. |
| End October |
The Deputy Minister
for Works, Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, announces at
Swakopmund concrete plans to increase the efficiency in the transport sector
by deregulation and competition as well as a road sector reform based on
privatisation. He stresses that road maintenance costs have to be cut by
ensuring that existing regulations on axle loads are complied with and that
the Namibian rail system has to play a full part in freight operations. Road
users have to pay what they consume and therefore an equitable, fair,
cost-reflective and transparent road user charging system has to be put in
place. As an initial step a Transport Advisory Board has to be established
as a new statutory body representing all transport interests. Reserved goods
permits for road hauliers will be phased out and the road haulier market
will be opened to all Namibians. |
| Beginning November |
Air Namibia announces
new regional flights to Gaborone, Harare and Lusaka. |
| 01.11. |
In order to balance
"the two Namibias", Dierks makes known a major road upgrading programme for
the formerly neglected Ovamboland. This programme will be put into effect in
six phases. Phase one consists of the immediate rehabilitation of 450 km of
gravel and earth roads in order to provide a skeleton network of acceptable
secondary roads. Roads to be improved are the Oshakati to Okahao road with a
link to Oshikuku, the Omafu to Mpungu (Kavango regional border) road via
Eenhana and Elundu, the Omafu to Okalongo road via Engela and Ongenga, the
Onethindi to Eenhana road via Oniipa and Oshigambo, the Onethindi to
Olukonda road, the Onathinge to Elundu road via Okankolo, the Outapi (Ombalantu)
to Okahao road via Tsandi, the Outapi to Okalongo road, the Tsandi to Onesi
road and the Okahao to Onaanda road. Special emphasis is laid on the concept
of appropriate engineering standards for low volume roads which are cost-optimised
and economically and financially feasible, taking into account social
problems like unemployment, gender balance and environmental arguments. To
this effect labour-based construction methods will be used. Two labour-based
test sections (Spoorbaan test section near Oshakati
and the Okahao to Onaanda road) are initiated during this year. This basic
road backbone network has to be completed within the next five years. Phase
two consists of the Ovambo Road Network Master Plan, pointing out priorities
for the construction, upgrading and maintenance standards to stimulate
economic growth in Ovamboland and capacity building mechanisms. The emphasis
also lies on new road links to Angola (Namibe Corridor) and a new link road
to the Kavango. Phase three focusses on the speedy construction of two
highways, the Oshakati to Ongenga road via Okatana, Endola and Omungwelume
and the Oshikuku to Okalongo roads. Phase four concentrates on new feeder
roads to agricultural growth points like a road between Oshikango to Odibo.
This phase also includes the further upgrading of some projects to
bituminous standards in the next five years. Phase five deals with the
development of appropriate engineering standards for the construction and
maintenance in Ovamboland with a special emphasis on solutions to the
peculiar road building material problems experienced in Ovamboland. Phase
six again focusses on the upgrading of existing paved roads in the area.
Some of these roads carry among the highest traffic loads in Namibia. The
financing of these ambitious projects has to be realised from Namibian
budget allocations and donor assistance from various countries. The
realisation of all these ambitious projects in the next ten years comprises
one of the greatest successes of the SWAPO-Government. |
| 05.11. |
President Nujoma
warns that foreign fishing trawlers violating Namibian territorial waters
would be punished.
The private German airline LTU tries to land at Windhoek International
Airport, without landing rights or any air services agreement between
Namibia and Germany in place. Temporary landing rights are granted by the
Namibian Government as an exception and in the interest of the passengers. |
| 25.11. |
Five Spanish fishing
trawlers fishing illegally in Namibian waters are captured by the Namibian
Authorities. They transport Namibian fish to the value of R 15 million. The
five captains are arrested and the crew released from prison on 15.12. |
| 26.11. |
After the President
has until now proclaimed Namibian public holidays such as the commemoration
of the "Old Location Uprising (10.12.1959)", the battle of Omugulu-gOmbashe
(26.08.1966) or the South African raid on Cassinga (04.05.1978), the
National Assembly passes the Public Holidays Bill. |
| 27.11. |
The Cabinet approves
the development of the Namibe-Corridor between Angola and Namibia. |
| 14.12. |
Prime Minister Hage
Geingob announces that the Namibian Government donates one million Rand to
the African National Congress (ANC). |
| 15.12. |
The Deputy Minister
for Works, Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, makes known a major
telecommunications programme in the so far neglected north, especially in
Ovamboland. He announces that Namibia with 5,4 telephone lines per 100
inhabitants does not compare too bad with the world average of 19,1 lines,
but this figure has to be balanced between "the two Namibias" and brought to
10 lines within ten years. |
|
New Roads in Ovamboland, built after
Independence
District Road 3605 from Oluno to Uukwiyo in the
Oshana Region
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
District Road 3625 between Oshigambo and Ondobe (Ohangwena
Region) in the Oshikoto Region
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
Main Road 110 between Elundu, east of Eenhana, and
Okongo in the Ohangwena Region
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
 
District Road 3608 between Engela and Ongenga in
the Ohangwena Region
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks
District Road 3609 between Ongenga and Oshakati in
the Ohangwena Region
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
District Road 3608 between Okalongo and Anamulenge
in the Omusati Region: Dry Season
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
District Road 3615 between Oshikuku and Elim in
the Omusati Region
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
District Road 3626 between Okahao (Ongandjera) and
Etilyasa in the Omusati Region
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
 
Main Road 123 between Outapi and Tsandi in the
Omusati Region
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks
District Road 3633 between Tsandi and
Omugulu-g'Ombashe in the Omusati Region
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
District Road 3617 between Onesi and the Kaokoveld
in the Omusati Region
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks |
