| 1998 |
The structural development of the
Namibian economy can be summarised as follows: On the macro-level, there is a long-term
decline of the primary sector (from 41,0% of GDP in 1981 to 29.5% in 1998). This decline
was largely to the benefit of the tertiary sector (from 40,9% to 53,0% presently). The
contribution of the secondary sector declined insignificantly (from 18,1% to 17,5%).
Although the mining contribution to GDP has declined since 1990, it still remains an
important economic sub-sector, due to its contribution to foreign exchange earnings and
taxation. The mining of diamonds becomes increasingly important.
The agricultural sub-sector faced serious shocks over the last eight years, due to several
droughts. This sector continues to be divided into two broad sub-sectors: the communal
tenure areas and freehold areas. The former comprise approximately 48% of total
agricultural land. Access to land is obtained through customary land tenure regimes, and
no outright ownership of land is possible. The remaining 52% of agricultural land is owned
under freehold title by approximately 4 500 commercial farmers. Commercial farming
contribute roughly twice as much to GDP as subsistence farming (6,4 % for commercial
farming and 2,9% for subsistence farming in 1990; for 1998 these figures have changed to
5,5% and 2,5% respectively). Despite its low contribution to GDP, subsistence agriculture
is the main source of income for more than 40% of the Namibian population (about 150 000
communal farmers). Commercial agriculture, on the other hand, employs in the region of 35
000 farm workers, who, together with their dependants, amount to approximately 150 000
people. This represent slightly less than 10% of the total labour force. While widespread
retrenchment of farm labourers has taken place since Independence, no data for this could
be obtained but this fact contributes to increasing pressure to accelerate Namibia’s
land reform. In 1990 the total national cattle herd amounted to 2 054 056 animals. As a
result of the drought in 1992/93 this figure decreased to approximately 1,9 million. Up to
1998 this figure increased again to 2 134 077, with a decrease in the commercial areas and
an increase in the communal areas in the north.
The fishery sector has seen high growth (from 1,7% in 1981 to 4,4% in 1998). Within the
manufacturing sector, the importance of fish processing has tripled between the early
1980s and the present time, although from a small base. The manufacturing sector is slowly
diversifying, but is still largely based on the processing of agricultural products.
The tertiary sector is dominated by the still increasing government service. Its share
increased from 15,8% in 1981 (20% of GDP in 1982) to 24,9% in 1998 (27% of GDP in 1997).
In the education sector, overall enrolment in Grades one to 12 increased from nearly 375
000 in 1991 to 497400 in 1998. Training at the higher and middle professional levels has
slightly increased from 1 866 students in 1995 to 2 041 students in 1998 in the Colleges
of Education. At the University of Namibia (UNAM) there are 3 454 students (1995: 3 501),
at the Polytechnic of Namibia 3 498 students (1995: 3 272) and the Vocational Training
Centres 641 learners (1995: 1 338).
After nearly ten years of experience with foreign donor assistance, it can be stated that
a "development aid dependency syndrome" has not developed in the given Namibian
context, as donor funds are not a dominant income source for the Government. Donor aid has
nevertheless played an important role throughout the years since Independence. Over the
years, disbursements by foreign donors have averaged 5,0% of GDP per annum, peaking at
6,0% in 1998. As in previous years, free-standing technical co-operation represents the
biggest part of external assistance, followed by investment project assistance and
investment-related technical co-operation. |
| 14./17.01. |
The roof organisation of the
Namibian trade union, the NUNW, holds its second congress since independence. In spite of
the presence of high representatives of the state, the trade union criticises sharply the
Namibian Government. Especial criticism is levelled against the privatisation plans and
the ailing land policy of the Government. |
| 15.01. |
A pilot training college at
Keetmanshoop which was initiated by Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and
Communication, Klaus Dierks, before independence (January 1990) comes one step nearer to
reality. A mission under the leadership of Klaus Bauer, Vice-President of Dornier
International Logistics, Munich, visits Keetmanshoop in order to evaluate such an aviation
training centre and to start the planning process. |
| 21.01. |
President Sam Nujoma visits Harare.
One week later he travels to Pretoria (29.01.). |
| 02.02. |
Klaus Dierks signs on behalf of the
Namibian Government a N$ 88,7 million contract with Rumdel Construction (Pty) Ltd. for the
construction of a section of the Trans Caprivi Highway between Wenela (Zambia border) and
Ngoma (Botswana border) in the Caprivi Region. The company will also rehabilitate the two
bridges over the Bukalo Channel and the Chobe River at Ngoma. The project is expected to
be completed within 27 months. It follows a detailed environmental impact assessment and a
study on the impact the highway will have on women. The contractor has to give employment
to at least 20 per cent women as unskilled workers. At least 50% per cent of the unskilled
workers have to be registered ex-PLAN combatants. The project is financed by the German Kreditanstalt
für Wiederaufbau (KfW). The finance was negotiated by Klaus Dierks. 
The Trans Caprivi Highway (Section: Wenela (Zambian Border) -
Katima Mulilo - Ngoma (Botswana Border)), Km 30 southeast of Katima Mulilo near Bukalo:
Crossing the Bukalo Channel between Zambezi and the Liambezi Lake, View to the Northwest,
February 2003
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
The Trans Caprivi Highway (Section: Wenela (Zambian Border) -
Katima Mulilo - Ngoma (Botswana Border)), Km 40 southeast of Katima Mulilo near Ikumwe,
View to the Southeast, February 2003
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
The Trans Caprivi Highway (Section: Wenela (Zambian Border) -
Katima Mulilo - Ngoma (Botswana Border)), Km 40 southeast of Katima Mulilo near Ikumwe,
View to the Northwest, February 2003
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
The Trans Caprivi Highway (Section: Wenela (Zambian Border) -
Katima Mulilo - Ngoma (Botswana Border)), Km 60 southeast of Katima Mulilo at Ngoma
Borderpost, View to the Northwest, February 2003
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks
  
The Trans Caprivi Highway (Section: Wenela (Zambian Border) -
Katima Mulilo - Ngoma (Botswana Border)), 61 km southeast of Katima Mulilo, View to the
South into Botswana, Ngoma Bridge over the Chobe River: The Namibia/Botswana Border is at
the Middle of the Bridge, February 2003
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks |
| 06.02. |
On the anniversary of Uukwanyama
King Mandume ya Ndemufayo’s death in 1917, a new Uukwanyama king, Ohamba
(Oshivambo: traditional title) Cornelius Mwetupunga Shelungu, is sworn in at Ohangwena. |
| 07./14.02. |
Prime Minister Hage Geingob visits
Burkina Faso. |
| 16.02. |
The second elections for the Local
Authorities which were scheduled for the beginning of December 1997 and which were
postponed, due to some formal omissions by the Election Commission, take place. Of 188 302
registered voters only 63 545 take part (34%) at the local elections. SWAPO gets more than
60% and is victorious in 26 of 45 cities and towns. The DTA achieves 24% of the votes and
independent groups get eight percent. |
| 25.02./28.02. |
President Sam Nujoma participates
in the World Economic Forum at Monaco. |
| 01./02.03. |
President Nujoma takes part at the
summit of heads of state of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Maputo. |
| 04.03. |
Senior management at TransNamib
partly attributes the company’s losses of N$ 47 million, as released in
TransNamib’s annual report for 1997, to the interferences of the Minister of Works,
Transport and Communication, Oskar Valentin Plichta. This is denied by the Deputy
Minister, Klaus Dierks. He maintains that the losses are due to bad management within the
company. He says that the losses by TransNamib are due to the on-going losses by the
national air carrier, Air Namibia (N$ 48,6 million as a result of 34% hike in operating
costs) which in the past had been made up for by the company’s investment in assets.
Many of these assets are now depleted. Air Namibia had mainly incurred losses on its
international route which had a negative ripple effect on the Namibian railways as there
are no funds to upgrade the railway system or buy new locomotives. |
| 04./08.03. |
The German Federal President, Roman
Herzog, visits Namibia. This state visit results in some irritations on the Namibian side
due to Herzog’s refusal to acknowledge the calls by some members of the Ovaherero
community for compensation in consequence of the Ovaherero-German War 1904 to 1906 and his
demand for special language rights for the German speaking group in Namibia. In the case
the of compensation for the Ovaherero, Herzog maintains that "no international
legislation existed at the time under which ethnic minorities could get reparations".
Mburumba Kerina counters by claiming that the SecondHague Convention, dated 29.07.1899, at
which the Germans were represented, outlaws "reprisals against civilians on the
losing side". Herzog dismisses the idea of an apology "because too much time had
passed to make sense". However, the Germans try to defuse the situation by putting
the responsibility for the statements on the shoulders of the German interpreter. |
| 15.03. |
Klaus Dierks announces that the
Government plans to auction hundreds of state-owned houses because they have proved too
costly to be efficiently maintained. The current rents which are received for these
government houses are too low to cover the minimum maintenance costs. These unproductive
houses area heavy burden on the Government. It is also not fair that only a few Government
officials are benefiting from the housing scheme. |
| 18./19.03. |
Hage Geingob visits Botswana. |
| 20.03. |
Peter Hilinganye Mweshihange (he
was Namibia's ambassador in the People's Republic of China) dies. |
| 25.03. |
The Minister for Finance, Nangolo
Mbumba, tables the Budget for the Financial Year 1998/99. The budget reflects the
worsening economic situation caused by the world economic crisis. The budget makes
provision for an expenditure of N$ 6 784 million, an increase of 17,9% against
1997/98 which is again more than the inflation rate of 6,21% for the year. This increment
is covered by tax increases. The General Sales Tax (GST) climbs from 8% to 10%. Taxes for
groups with high incomes in excess of N$ 100 000 per annum and for companies rise from 38%
to 40%. The two sectors education and health still receive with 39% the biggest share of
the total expenditure. The vote for the coverage of interests for the increased debt jumps
with N$ 442 million to 6,9% of the total budget. The expected deficit is estimated with
3,8% and increases the total debts (N$ 3 900 million including foreign loans of N$ 545
million) from 21% to 23,4% of the GDP. The Namibia Dollar which is still linked to the
South African Rand experiences a dramatic weakening against hard currencies (losses: 17,2%
against the US$, 18,6% against the DM, 11% against the Yen and 20% against the British
Pound). This results in an increase in the prime rate of the Bank of Namibia to a record
level of 20,75%. |
| 25.03./29.03. |
President Sam Nujoma visits the
Netherlands. From there he travels to the Russian Federation (29.03./01.04.). |
| 05./10.04. |
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
holds its conference in Windhoek. |
| 01./15.05. |
Prime Minister Hage Geingob visits
London, New York and Frankfurt. |
| 17.04. |
The Government is surprised by the
unexpected closure of the Tsumeb Corporation Limited (TCL) by the South African mining
concern Goldfields. This sudden closedown of several mines (the copper mines at Kombat,
Otjihase, Khusib Springs and the copper smelter in Tsumeb, the mine at Tsumeb had already
closed in 1996 due to the exhaustion of the ore) of TCL is in conflict with the Namibian
mining legislation. Goldfields gives as reasons the low world market metal prices,
management problems and consequences of the strike at Tsumeb during 1996. Two thousand
employees loose their jobs and the economic survival of Tsumeb is threatened. Also
Namibia’s state owned railway company TransNamib loses one of her major customers.
Rössing Uranium of Arandis, a transnational firm of parent company Rio Tinto Zinc, is
forced to import Pyrite which so far was obtained from Tsumeb, for higher world market
prices from outside. Efforts to revitalise the Tsumeb mines by a joint venture between the
Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) and some managers of the Tsumeb Corporation Limited
(TCL) do not materialise during 1998. However, with direct engagement of the Ministry of
Mines and Energy, during 1999 and 2000, the joint venture between the trade union and some
managers of the former TCL becomes reality. The new mining concern Ongopolo Mining Pty.
Ltd. (Oshivambo: Ongopolo means copper) (Managing Director: Andre Neethling) comes into
existence and develops in one of Namibia’s greater success stories. |
| 01.05. |
The President of the National Union
of Namibian Workers (NUNW) criticises sharply the illegal closure of the mines of the
Tsumeb Corporation Limited (TCL) by the South African mining concern Goldfields. He
accuses many foreign investors in Namibia to exploit Namibia’s human and natural
resources. |
| 01./15.05. |
Prime Minister Hage Geingob visits
London, New York and Frankfurt. |
| 08.05. |
Sam Nujoma travels to Luanda. |
| 09.05. |
The SWAPO Central Committee
discusses the third term in office for President Sam Nujoma, as decided on the SWAPO
Congress in May 1997. Such a further term in office would require an amendment to the
Namibian Constitution which is accomplishable due to SWAPO’s majority of 72% in the
National Assembly. It is legally argued that Nujoma’s first term was not in agreement
with Namibia’s Constitution, because this term was the consequence of the
UNO-supervised Elections for the Constituent Assembly, 1989. The Central Committee
confirms a further term for President Nujoma. |
| 14./15.05. |
President Nujoma participates in a
regional conference in Kinshasa. |
| 17./19.05. |
The World Economic Forum takes
place in Windhoek. Six Heads of State are present at this prestige event: Frederick
Chiluba from Zambia, Joaquim Chissano from Mozambique, Laurent
Desire Kabila from the DRC, Festus Mogae from Botswana, King Mswati III from Swaziland and
Robert Mugabe from Zimbabwe. Also South Africa’s Vice President, Thabo Mbeki, attends
the Forum. |
| 20./23.05. |
Prime Minister Hage Geingob
participates in the Expo in Lisboa. |
| 26./28.05. |
Nujoma goes on a state visit to
Malawi. |
| 07./10.06. |
Sam Nujoma takes part at the OAU
summit in Burkina Faso. |
| 23.06. |
The HIV-Aids Rate climbs to 20%
among the age group of between 15 and 49 years. |
| 25./26.06. |
President Jacques Chirac from
France visits Namibia. |
| 28./29.06. |
Nujoma participates in the
Conference of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in Kinshasa. |
| 24.06./14.07. |
Hage Geingob visits Frankfurt,
Switzerland, Madrid and Paris (and again Paris from 06.09. to15.09.). |
| 01.07. |
The Deputy Minister for Works,
Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, makes known that it is envisaged to establish a
locomotive assembly plant in Namibia, possibly in Usakos. This plant would be a joint
venture between Germany, South Africa and Namibia. It is planned to assemble diesel
locomotive of the latest design not only for TransNamib, but for the whole African market. |
| 07.07. |
The Minister without Portfolio,
Lucas Hifikepunye Pohamba, announces in the National Assembly that the SWAPO leadership
has approved a third term in office for President Sam Nujoma. |
| 16./20.07. |
Prime Minister Hage Geingob visits
Johannesburg. |
| 21.07. |
The Cabinet has instructed the
Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication to realise the proposed Northern Extension
Railway Line from Tsumeb to Oshikango as top priority. The idea is to link this railway
line later with the Angolan railway network at Entrocamento (Mossamedes Railway Line). |
| 24.07. |
The workers from the Namibia Port
Authority (NamPort) conduct a strike which paralyses for a while Namibia’s two ports,
Walvis Bay and Lüderitz. Some time before this strike action the Namibian trade unions
and the public and private employers had agreed general wage increases in a harmonious
atmosphere (between eight and 29%). |
| 25./29.07. |
The recommendations of the World
Economic Forum in Windhoek (May 1998) are followed up by the Southern African
International Dialogue in Swakopmund. Except Joaquim Chissano from Mozambique,
Festus Mogae from Botswana, the King of Swaziland, Mswati III, Robert Mugabe from Zimbabwe
and South Africa’s Vice-President, Thabo Mbeki, also Benjamin Mpaka from Tanzania,
Yoveri Museveni from Uganda and Bin Mohamad Mahathir from Malaysia participate in the
event. |
| 29./31.07. |
In order to defuse the conflict
around the two Chobe River islands Kasikili and Situndu, Botswana’s President, Festus
Mogae, visits Namibia, after the two countries had agreed on 05./06.05. to resolve the
problem by peaceful means only. |
| 01.08. |
The road rehabilitation project
between Otavi and Otjiwarongo is completed one month ahead of schedule. The Deputy
Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, had played a key role in
the realisation of this project. |
| 05./06.08. |
Sam Nujoma travels to Abuja in
Nigeria. From there he proceeds to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe (07./08.08.). These official
missions are followed by visits to Luanda (16.08.), Cape Town (20.08.), and to a summit of
heads of state of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Pretoria (23.08.)
in order to find solutions to the conflict in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). |
| 06.08. |
Renewed demonstrations of Ex-PLAN
soldiers who march in protest for jobs take place. One group tries to demonstrate before
the Office of the President. This demonstration is quickly dissolved by the Namibian
Police. President Nujoma tries to calm down some groups of ex-soldiers in the north
(08.08.). Consequently the Cabinet decides on a programme to establish additional jobs
(11.08.). The Windhoek group increases to 1 500 Ex-PLAN combatants. The Minister for Home
Affairs, Jerry Ekandjo, announces the establishment of a Technical Committee to Evaluate
Rightful Claims of Ex-Combatants (14.08.). Thereafter the ex-soldiers withdraw to the area
of the Windhoek Fair. In the north the group of Ex-PLAN soldiers grows to more than 3 000.
After the closing date of the registration of the rightful claimants, the Minister of
Information and Broadcasting, Ben Amathila, makes known that 6 427 ex-soldiers get jobs
and 3 049 receive a war veteran pension. |
| 16.08. |
During a meeting in Luanda the two
presidents of Namibia and Zimbabwe decide to support militarily the President of the
Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), Laurent Desire Kabila, in the war in the DRC. This war
had its roots in Kabila’s rise to power the previous year. Foreign forces (especially
from Rwanda and Uganda, but with assistance from SADC members such as Angola, Zambia and
Zimbabwe as well) had in 1997 led the drive to oust longstanding Zaire dictator Mobuto
Sese Seko, and install Kabila in his place. But Kabila’s position was far from
secure, and when his eastern allies found that their security needs were not being met,
they supported yet another rebellion. The new war is followed by Kabila’s request for
assistance in the conflict in Harare on 17.08. because the war seriously endangers his
position as president.
Namibia reacts with a general declaration of support on 19.08. |
| 19.08. |
First rumours regarding a
threatening secession movement in the Caprivi Region turn up. The Government reacts
immediately with a strong warning that such initiatives will be regarded as high treason
and treated accordingly. It is also rumoured that the President of the DTA, Mishake
Muyongo, is the instigator of such unconstitutional activities. |
| 23.08. |
After evidence is achieved that
Muyongo is in fact involved in the Caprivi secessionist activities, he is suspended from
all his political offices by the DTA party leadership. |
| 24.08. |
First rumours about a Namibian
military involvement in the DRC war make the round in Windhoek. |
| 26.08. |
President Sam Nujoma confirms for
the first time that Namibia is directly involved in the war in the DRC. Namibia’s
military engagement has been sanctioned by him in his capacity as the supreme commander of
the NDF without consulting the Namibian Parliament and Cabinet. This proclamation is
followed by the announcement of the first Namibian casualties in this war on 01.09. |
| 27.08. |
The High Commissioner in London,
Ben Ulenga, severely criticises the SWAPO Party. His main reasoning is the third office
term for President Sam Nujoma, although he has, as a member of the SWAPO Central
Committee, not levelled any critic for such a further term in the past. Further reasons
are Namibia’s participation in the war in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) and the
insufficient integration of former PLAN combatants into the Namibian society. Consequently
Ulenga is dismissed as High Commissioner with immediate effect. |
| 29./30.08. |
The Extraordinary SWAPO Congress
has not any more the third term of office for President Sam Nujoma on its agenda, but
decides on an amended Party Constitution with 71 changes against the 1991 Party
Constitution. |
| 30./31.08. |
India’s Prime Minister, Atal
Bihari Vajpayee, visits Namibia. |
| 01.09. |
The Cuban president, Fidel Castro,
stops for several hours at the Hosea Kutako International Airport Windhoek. |
| 01./02.09. |
President Nujoma travels to a
meeting of the block free countries in Durban where Southern African leaders are trying to
achieve a negotiated settlement to the war in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). The
dispute between those who favour intervention in the war, led most vocally by Zimbabwean
President Robert Mugabe, and those favouring negotiation, led by Nelson Mandela, supported
by UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, grows quite bitter. Nujoma defends Namibia’s
military participation in the war in the DRC. This mission is followed by further visits
to the independence celebrations in Swaziland (05./06.09), to Victoria Falls in order to
discuss the war in the DRC, a further summit of heads of state of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) at Mauritius (13./15.09.), to Mozambique (15./17.09.) and to
a conference of French speaking countries in Gabon (24.09.). |
| 03./05.09. |
Algeria’s President, Liamine
Zeroual, visits Namibia. |
| 11.09. |
In a TV Speech to the Nation,
President Sam Nujoma defends Namibia’s participation in the war in the Democratic
Republic Congo (DRC) and maintains that this engagement is required as a peace keeping
effort and is necessitated by the spirit of African Unity and in order to find African
solutions for African problems. |
| 18./25.09. |
Prime Minister Hage Geingob travels
to Rome and New York. |
| 28.09. |
SWAPO Secretary-General, Lucas
Hifikepunye Pohamba, justifies during a Television broadcast an amendment of the Namibian
constitution in order to pave the way for a third term in office for President Sam Nujoma. |
| Beginning October |
The General Assembly of the United
Nations unanimously elects Namibia as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for
the time period January 1999 to December 2000. A similar honour was bestowed to Namibia
when some time earlier Namibia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Theo-Ben Gurirab, was
elected as Chairman of the UN General Assembly for the period 1999/2000. |
| 07.10. |
Prime Minister Hage Gottfried
Geingob tables legislation in order to amend the Constitution to allow a further term for
the President. This amendment law has to be withdrawn for legal reasons (13.10.) because
Geingob links this amendment with a further constitutional amendment which allows the
President to appoint Regional Governors directly. Until now the governors who belong to
the Regional Councils were elected from the ranks from these Councils. To link two
constitutional amendments in a single piece of legislation is legally not allowed.
Therefore the second amendment is tabled separately by the Minister for Regional and Local
Government and Housing, Nicky Iyambo. The first amendment law which allows for a third
presidential term for President Nujoma passes the two Houses of Parliament on 19.11. It is
clear that this constitutional amendment is only meant for Namibia’s founding
president and furthermore due to the legal argument that Nujoma’s first term was not
in accordance with Namibia’s Constitution, because this term was the consequence of
the UNO-supervised Elections for the Constituent Assembly of 1989. |
| 07./08.10. |
Prime Minister, Hage Gottfried
Geingob, calls for an Anti-Corruption-Conference in Windhoek. Consequently the Cabinet
approves guidelines for Anti-Corruption measures in the civil service. |
| 09.10. |
A high level delegation from the
USA visits Namibia to further the information technology (IT) for Namibia. Together with
Gambia, Namibia has been chosen to develop the Internet sector and serve as a bridge of
technology transfer between the United States of America and Africa. This visit is a
follow-up on an official visit by the Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and
Communication, Klaus Dierks, to the USA two weeks ago. |
| 13.01. |
TransNamib announces that painful
steps are required to stop the losses by the national air carrier Air Namibia. Klaus
Dierks welcomes this decision, cautions however, that this action comes too late. He
maintains that the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication since independence has
warned the airline to reduce its activities to domestic and regional air services only
because intercontinental services could not be provided by a small and vulnerable airline
like Air Namibia without a strong partner. |
| 15.10. |
With the involvement of the SWAPO
dissident, Ben Ulenga, the political pressure group "Forum for the Future" is
established in Windhoek. The majority of the participants are frustrated, mainly
"white" supporters of both the SWAPO Party and the DTA. |
| 28.10. |
The Minister for Finance, Nangolo
Mbumba, tables an Additional Budget for the Financial Year 1998/99. This Additional Budget
of N$ 69 million is mainly caused by additional expenditures for the Namibian
participation in the war in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC)(N$ 30 million). With the
revised budget the expected deficit is increasing from 3,8% to 4,3% of the GDP.
The indications are getting stronger that the Caprivi secessionists even maintain military
training camps in the Caprivi Region. The Government has no choice to put an end to these
unconstitutional activities. In consequence of government actions some armed secessionists
escape to Botswana where 92 are arrested by the Botswana authorities.
In order to remove the trigger from the war in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), South
Africa’s President, Nelson Mandela, visits Windhoek. |
| 30.10. |
The secessionist conflict in the
Caprivi Region escalates. Some hundred involved persons including Mishake Muyongo, the
chief of the Fwe community in the Caprivi Strip, Boniface Bebi Mamili, the Regional
Governor, Mabuku, as well as a couple of hundred San of the Kxoé group escape to
Botswana. |
| 01.11. |
Sam Nujoma travels to Lubumbashi
for a meeting with the allied states to the war in the DRC. |
| 05.11. |
The Namibia Airports Company
Limited is established. |
| 06.11. |
The Minister for Home Affairs,
Jerry Ekandjo, provokes a public outcry when he announces in the National Assembly that he
intends to table a bill that prohibits homosexuality in Namibia. However, the Prime
Minister, Hage Gottfried Geingob, corrects the statement of the Minister. |
| 17.11. |
Ulenga is suspended during a
meeting of the SWAPO Central Committee. Consequently Ulenga hints that he considers to
leave the SWAPO Party (19.11.). |
| 22./25.11. |
President Nujoma visits Italy. From
there he travels to the Franco-African Summit Meeting in Paris (25./28.11.). |
| 30.11./01.12. |
The second elections for the
Regional Councils which were scheduled for the beginning of December 1997 and which were
postponed, due to some formal omissions by the Election Commission, take place. The
voters’ participation of 34% during the elections for the Local Authorities on 16.02.
increases now to a little bit more than 40% of approximately 800 000 registered
voters. The SWAPO Party is again victorious. She even manages to win the Caprivi Region
from the DTA, with a meagre 12% voters participation due to the secessionist conflict in
that region. |
| 30.11./02.12. |
Prime Minister Hage Geingob visits
Cape Town. |
| 03.12. |
News that five San of the Kxoé
group have died from hunger due to the chaotic circumstances in the Caprivi Region are
confirmed. |
| 04.12. |
In order to find a solution to end
the war in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), the President of DRC, Laurent Desire
Kabila, visits Namibia. |
| 04./09.12. |
Hage Geingob travels to Tanzania. |
| Middle December |
The number of escaped Caprivi
secessionists is given with 2 200 including 1 000 of the Kxoé group. All the people are
in the care of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Botswana. One of
the UNHCR camps is in Dukwe/Botswana. |
| 16./18.12. |
President Sam Nujoma travels to a
meeting of the Security Council of the OAU in Burkina Faso. |
| 16./19.12. |
Hage Geingob visits Mali. |
| 23.12. |
The Deputy Minister for Works,
Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, makes known that the final stage of the Trans
Caprivi Highway, the Zambezi Bridge between Namibia (Katima Mulilo) and Zambia (Sesheke),
is delayed because Zambia has failed to pay its debts to Germany, which is sponsoring the
project. However, the German government has agreed to provide a soft loan to Namibia N$ 63
million for the rehabilitation of the Kongola to Katima Mulilo section of the Trans
Caprivi Highway. Dierks announces further that for technical and financial reasons it has
been decided between the two governments of Namibia and Zambia to build the Zambezi Bridge
on Zambian territory because the chosen site is the optimal one in an engineering sense.
Having the bridge entirely built within Zambia would also eliminate the need for Zambian
residents to cross international borders when using the bridge to travel to Zambian towns
on the other side of the river. Another major factor influencing the decision is that
currently Zambia with its low per capita GDP, is eligible for a direct grant from Germany,
whereas Namibia would only have qualified for a soft loan. |
