1999 | The tough economic conditions during 1999 are further deepened by an ever depreciating Namibia Dollar. Especially the agricultural sector is not spared brought about by high interest rates. With declining beef prices and rising input prices, the agricultural debt soars to an all time high, to about N$ 1 billion. At a financing rate of 17%, the interest burden plus 10% capital repayment will amount to nearly N$ 300 million. Debt repayments will thus represent approximately 35% of an estimated agricultural income of N$ 840 million. |
02.01. | The Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, criticises plans by the Ministry for Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism, to construct a 62 km long asphalt road from Sesriem to Sossus Vley. This project was initiated by the former Minister, Gerd Hanekom, who now serves as Economic Advisor to the President. The Transport Ministry was never consulted in the planning and building of this road. A paved road which is situated several hundred kilometres from the next blacktop road makes no engineering sense. The Ministry of Wildlife has no expertise to maintain such "white elephant". The road will quickly develop in a potholed nightmare (which happened within two years). |
03.01. | The Namibian Government announces a press embargo on all news from the war in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). This embargo is, however, terminated on 11.01. |
08.01. | Air Namibia concludes an agreement of cooperation with South African Airways (SAA). This desirable understanding is later unilaterally terminated by Air Namibias new Chief Executive Officer, Jaafar Ahmad which drives the Namibian ailing national air carrier deeper into bankruptcy. |
15.01. | The war in the Democratic Republic
Congo (DRC) continues. The crash of a Namibian military helicopter in the DRC causes five
casualties. Prime Minister, Hage Gottfried Geingob, appeals to the United Nations to take serous steps to end the civil war in Angola. |
16.01. | First peace negotiations to settle the conflict in the DRC in Lusaka fail. |
17.01. | A further round of talks without the warring Congolese factions in order to end the war in the DRC takes place in Windhoek. The negotiations end without result because the President of Rwanda, Pasteur Bizimungu, is not arriving in time. |
18.01. | Bizimungu arrives in Windhoek. The peace negotiations result in a concept for a cease fire in the DRC. President Nujoma submit the paper to the DRC President Kabila on 31.01. and South Africas President Mandela on 24.02. |
25.01. | In spite off all governmental efforts last year, renewed demonstrations of Ex-PLAN soldiers take place at the Ondangwa airport. These demonstrations are followed by more demonstrations in Katutura (Windhoek). The conflict comes to an end when the Government undertakes to create jobs for all registered ex-soldiers in the Namibian Civil Service (April). |
29.01. | The Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, moves in his motivation speech before the National Assembly for the three reform road sector reform bills (Road Fund Administration Bill, Roads Authority Bill, Roads Contractor Company Bill) that the Ministry goes ahead with its MWTC2000 Project in the African context in unbundling and commercialising its various departments and turning the government owned roads construction department into a profit orientated company (Roads Contractor Company (RCC)). The Roads Authority will plan and manage the national roads network. The Road Fund Administration provides for an administration to manage a road user charging system and to establish a road fund. All are to be implemented within the next few months. Dierks is also the chairman of the Steering Committee to implement the MWTC2000 Project and to push it to its conclusion. The Road Traffic and Transport Bill would take longer as many stakeholders in the transport sector would have to scrutinise it and possible amendments be made. |
End January | The secessionist struggle in the Caprivi Region escalates further. The first group of escapees from October 1998 increases to 2 400 persons. |
05.02. | The Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication transfers the assets of eight major airports (Windhoek Hosea Kutako Airport, Eros (Windhoek), Rooikop (Walvis Bay), Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz, Ondangwa, Rundu and Katima Mulilo) to the Namibia Airports Company Limited (created 05.11.1998). The other 56 smaller airports throughout the country will be considered at a later stage. The Chief Executive officer of the new company is Tukondjelanee Elijah Nghihalua. |
11.02. | Botswana grants, to the annoyance of the Namibian Government, political asylum to the 15 leaders of the secessionist conflict in the Caprivi Region, including Mishake Muyongo, the chief of the Fwe community in the Caprivi Strip, Boniface Bebi Mamili and the Regional Governor, Mabuku. |
15.02./05.03. | The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague hears the case on the disputed boundary around the Kasikili Island which was a point of conflict between Namibia and Botswana for so many years. |
24.02. | The Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, opens four roads in the once neglected areas in the former Ovamboland. These roads were built by labour-based means in an effort to alleviate the unemployment situation in Namibias north. Informal road contractors were trained during the construction phase and the workers were recruited from the area and paid on a task-work basis, in other words, for the actual piece of work completed. The four roads are the roads from Onethindi to Oshigambo, from Oluno to Uukwiyu, from Oshakati to Ompundja and from Onethindi to Olukonda. This project which was financed by a grant from the German Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) included a bridge over the Oshana Ompundja. During a visit with President Sam Nujoma in 1995 Dierks promised to the Ompundja community that they would get such a bridge. In August 1997 labour-based construction of the road from Oshakati to Ompundja had begun. |
05.03. | Presidents Mandela, Nujoma and Mugabe meet in Pretoria in order to find solutions to end the war in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). |
09.03. | Returning escapees from Botswana report about concrete secessionist plans by the leaders of the Caprivi conflict. |
10./12.03. | President Nujoma visits Botswana. |
18./23.03. | Tanzanias President, Frederick Tulway Sumaye, visits Namibia. |
23.03. | The SWAPO dissident, Ben Ulenga, establishes a new political party, the Congress of Democrats (COD). The new party originates from the political pressure group "Forum for the Future" which was established in Windhoek in October 1998. The former Namibian Ambassador in Germany, Nora Schimming-Chase is also a founding member of the party. |
25.03. | Namibia votes as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council together with China and the Russian Federation against the NATO bomb attacks on Yugoslavia. |
26.03. | President Sam Nujoma effects his fourth cabinet re-shuffle during his second term. The Minister of Mines and Energy, Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, becomes Minister for Labour, after the death of Moses Makue 5Garoëb in September 1997. The present Deputy Minister for Mines and Energy, Jesaya Nyamu, becomes Toivos successor. The Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, becomes the new Deputy Minister for Mines and Energy. The acting Minister for Labour, John Mueneni Shaetonhodi, becomes Deputy Minister for Works, Transport and Communication. Walter Kemba is appointed as Deputy Minister for Labour. Bernhardt Esau replaces the present Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Wilfried Emvula who becomes Namibian ambassador in Paris. Siegfried Wohler becomes the new Deputy Minister for Land, Resettlement and Rehabilitation. The position of Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Defence remains vacant. |
29./31.03. | The Kenyan President, Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, visits Namibia. |
31.03. | The National Transportation Services Holding Company Act No. 28 of 1998 takes effect. The new Namibian railway legislation regulates the ownership of railway infrastructure which reverts back to the State and the operations of TransNamib. |
06.04. | Botswana grants 1 116 escapees of the secessionist conflict in the Caprivi Region political asylum. |
07.04. | The Minister for Finance, Nangolo Mbumba, tables the Budget for the Financial Year 1999/2000. The budget mirrors the difficult economic situation caused by Namibias participation in the war in the DRC and the involvement in the civil war in Angola. The budget makes provision for an expenditure of N$ 7 715 million, (N$ 6 784 million for 1998/99), an increase of 14,5% against 1998/99 which is again more than the inflation rate for the year. The budget makes provision for a general tax decrease of average five percent, which indicates that this budget is a typical budget in a general election year. The tax decrease is compensated by N$ 2 240 million from customs and levies from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) which marks an increase of 32% against the previous financial year. The two sectors education and health still receive the biggest share of the total expenditure, although in real terms a decrease in the expenditure for these votes has to be noted. The two sectors are heavily influenced by the rapidly spreading HIV-Aids epidemic (The infection has reached a total number of 53 330 reported cases in 1998 with an increase during the period 1986 - 1998 of over 1 000%. Preliminary data recorded for the period January - October 1999 show the number of infected reaching 12 665, bringing the total number of cases since 1986 to 65 895. The mean life expectancy of 57,7 years for 1991 decreased to 52,4 years). The main problem of the 1999/2000 budget is still the over-proportional blown up civil service which now has to make provision for 9 000 registered Ex-PLAN soldiers and reaches the number of 78 249 civil servants. PLAN soldiers over the age of 55 will receive a monthly pension of N$ 500. The operational budget consists already of 86% of the total budget with 58% for the salaries for the public service. Consequently the reform policy of the Wage and Salary Commission (WASCOM) is declared as a failure by Mbumba. The vote for defence reaches now N$ 559,2 million, an increase of 26,4% against 1998/99 which represents 7,2% of the total budget. This does not include the expenditure for the war in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) which is financed from the emergency vote within the Ministry of Finance. The coverage of interests for the increased debt jumps to 6,4% of the total budget. The expected deficit of N$ 799 million is estimated with 4,2% of the GDP and increases the total debts (N$ 4 500 million) from 23,4% to 23,5% of the GDP. There is no sign in sight to replace the present First National Development Plan (NDP1) with a Second National Development Plan (NDP2). In place of this President Sam Nujoma initiates a long term development strategy "Vision 2030". There is a decline of foreign donor assistance to be utilised to finance development projects from close to N$ 46 million in the financial year 1998/99 to only N$ seven million in the 1999/2000 Budget. |
08.04. | Because the peace efforts of Namibia and of several countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are not successful to end the war in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), a secret defence agreement is concluded between Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe and the DRC. |
14.04. | President Nujomas further talks to find a solution for the DRC conflict in Botswana and Zambia show no results. |
18.04. | Litungu (Fwe traditional title) George Simasiku, Mamili, becomes the new chief of the Mafwe Traditional Authority in Linyanti. |
19.04. | It is reported that no significant
progress had been made in the beginning of construction work on the Northern Extension
Railway Line from Tsumeb to Oshikango at the Angola border although the US Trade
Development Agency (TDA) sponsored feasibility study on the railway line has found that
there is enough traffic to justify the link. The former Deputy Minister for Works,
Transport and Communication, Klaus Dierks, now the new Deputy Minister for Mines and
Energy, had earlier cautioned that the scale of the project would require strong
participation from foreign companies as a prerequisite for the success of the railway
line. The planning concept is to build the line with labour-based techniques. The first two test sections were built near Tsumeb and Oshivelo in the year 2000. They were built by labour-intensive means by the subsidiary company "Patriot Construction" of the state-owned Development Brigade Corporation which mainly makes use of ex-PLAN (People's Liberation Army of Namibia) fighters. The full construction the first phase (Tsumeb-Oshivelo-Omuthiya-Ondangwa: 246 km) started during 2001/2002. Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Pilot Project: 3 km from Km 0: Km 0: Southern Leg of Fork-Junction:
Joining the Existing Railway Line: Tsumeb - Otavi through the Bobos Mountains: View to the
Southwest: October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Pilot Project: 3 km from Km 0: Fill Section at Km 1: View to the South:
October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Pilot Project: 3 km from Km 0: Excavation Section at Km 2: View to the
South: October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Manufacturing of Concrete Sleepers: Tsumeb: With "Green Hill at
Background: Grinaker-LTA/TransNamib Holdings Ltd. Joint Venture: October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Manufacturing of Concrete Sleepers: Tsumeb: Grinaker-LTA/TransNamib
Holdings Ltd. Joint Venture: October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Equipment-Based Contract 1: from Km 3 to Km 48: Fill Section at Km 5:
Second A Layer under Construction: View to the North: October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Equipment-Based Contract 1: from Km 3 to Km 48: Fill Section at Km 25:
Second A Layer under Construction: View to the North: October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Equipment-Based Contract 1: from Km 3 to Km 48: Fill Section at Km 25:
Second A Layer under Construction: The Chief Executive Officer: TransNamib Holdings Ltd.,
John Shaetonhodi, October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Equipment-Based Contract 2: from Km 48 to Km 91,68: Fill Section at Km 99:
Formation Layer under Construction: View to the South: October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Equipment-Based Contract 2: from Km 48 to Km 91,68: Bridge Excavation at
Km 99: Bridge over Omuramba Ovambo, South of Oshivelo: View to the North: October
2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Labour-Based Contract 1: from Km 109,58 to Km 131: Construction of
Formation Layer: Approx. Km 115: View to the South: October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Labour-Based Contract 1: from Km 109,84 to Km 131: Labour-Based
Activities are based on Day-Tasks: 4 cub.metres per Task: N$ 21,90/Task (approx. US$
2,10): Working Hours: 05h00 to 14h00 due to the Great Heat during the Summer Time: Up to
four Tasks can be executed: October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Labour-Based Contract 1: from Km 109,84 to Km 131: Construction of
Labour-Based Concrete Culvert (Pipe Culvert): Km 125: October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Labour-Based Contract 1: from Km 109,84 to Km 131: Approx. Km 125:
Construction of First A- Layer by Labour-Based Means: View to the South: October
2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Labour-Based Contract 1: from Km 109,58 to Km 131: Construction of
Formation Layer: Approx. Km 128: View to the South: October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Labour-Based Contract 1: Roads Contractor Company (RCC): from Km 109,84 to
Km 131: Labour-Based Activities are based on Day-Tasks: 4 cub.metres per Task: N$
21,90/Task (approx. US$ 2,10): Construction of Formation: September 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Labour-Based Contract 2: Roadhart: from Km 131 to Km 149:
Labour-Based Activities are based on Day-Tasks: 4 cub.metres per Task: N$ 21,90/Task
(approx. US$ 2,10): Excavation and Construction of Formation: October 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Labour-Based Contract 3: Storbou Construction: from Km 149 to Km 167
(Omuthiya): Labour-Based Activities are based on Day-Tasks: 4 cub.metres per Task:
N$ 21,90/Task (approx. US$ 2,10): Hand-Imported Construction of Formation: September
2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Labour-Based Contract 3: Storbou Construction: from Km 149 to Km 167
(Omuthiya): Removal of an Anthill: September 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Labour-Based Contract 4: Roadhart: from Km 167 (Omuthiya) to Km 185:
Roadbed Preparation and Compaction: September 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Labour-Based Contract 4: Roadhart: from Km 167 (Omuthiya) to Km 185:
Labour-Based Activities are based on Day-Tasks: 4 cub.metres per Task: N$ 21,90/Task
(approx. US$ 2,10): Construction of Formation: September 2002 Northern Extension Railway Line: Phase 1: Tsumeb - Ondangwa:
approx. 250 km: Labour-Based Contract 4: Roadhart: from Km 167 (Omuthiya) to Km 185:
Compaction of Formation Layer: September 2002 |
28.04. | The Prime Minister, Hage Geingob, opens the Fourth African Oil and Gas Trade and Finance Conference in Windhoek. The conference is attended by the Minister for Mines and Energy, Jesaya Nyamu, the new Mine's Deputy Minister, Klaus Dierks, the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Kaire Mbuende and Maxime Obiang-Nze, the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Petroleum Producers in Africa. |
03.05. | Denmark grants political asylum to Mishake Muyongo and the chief of the Fwe community in the Caprivi Strip, Boniface Bebi Mamili. |
07.05. | The Minister for Works, Transport
and Communication, Oskar Valentin Plichta, announces that Zambia will soon sign an
agreement to link both countries by means of the envisaged Zambezi Bridge. This bridge
would be a further milestone in the completion of the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi
corridor. Land locked Zambia would then be able also to use fully the Trans Caprivi
Highway and to transport good via the Port of Walvis Bay. The bridge would be built close
to Katima Mulilo (Wenela), on the Zambian side where the Zambezi River makes a big
oxbow-like curve. The costs of the project would be about N$ 60 million. This amount will
be funded by a grant to the Zambian Government by the German Kreditanstalt für
Wiederaufbau (KfW). Due to the precarious financial situation of Zambia, the country
was unable to meet to some of its loan commitments with the German Government. This nearly
ruined the Zambezi bridge project. Klaus Dierks, the then Deputy Minister for Works,
Transport and Communication, however managed to convince the German Government of the
necessity and urgency of the bridge earlier this year, about two weeks before he was made
Deputy Minister for Mines and Energy on 26.03. As a result German grant funding was made
possible and the bridge over the Zambezi can now be built.
Construction of the Zambezi River Bridge (Bridge 508) between
Katima Mulilo and Sesheke in Zambia: Built on Katima Rapids (The Bridge is situated in
Zambia, the West-Abutment is 10 m from Boundary Beacon between Namibia and Zambia):
Radius: 1 600 m: Incremental Launching of the Deck over the entire Bridge from West to
East has still to take Place: Total Length of Bridge: 877,40m: 18 Piers and the
West-Abutment have been completed: Progress on February, 12th 2003: View from West to East:
Construction Time: 24 Months as from April 2002: Costs: approx. 9 US $ Million:
The Bridge is the last Missing Link in the Walvis Bay Corridor from Walvis Bay to
Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Construction of the Zambezi River Bridge (Bridge 508) between
Katima Mulilo and Sesheke in Zambia: The Eastern Abutment is excavated and the Foundation
Base is prepared: Progress on February, 12th 2003 Construction of the Zambezi River Bridge (Bridge 508) between
Katima Mulilo and Sesheke in Zambia: The Piers were constructed with the Aid of a
Causeway from both Sides of the River with an Opening in the Middle of the River of 100 m
Width during the Dry Season: The Causeway, which is in the Process to be removed, consists
of a Rockfilldam and Precast Culvert Sections: The Abutments and 18 Piers were built from
the Causeway with the Assistance of Cofferdams, all on Spread Footings, mostly on
Hard Rock (Basalt) within the River (30 MPa Compression Strength; Max. Heigth: 19,90 m
above foundation, 14,40 m above Low Water, 2,60 m above Highwater (100 Years Probability)
): Progress on February, 12th 2003: View from East to West Construction of the Zambezi River Bridge (Bridge 508) between
Katima Mulilo and Sesheke in Zambia: Incremental Launching of the Deck over the entire
Bridge from West to East from West Abutment to East Abutment: First Stage is to put the
Reinforcement in to the Segment (Hollow Prestressed Beam 31,4 m long and 10,10 m
wide) in the "Reinforcing Bay": Progress on February, 12th 2003 Construction of the Zambezi River Bridge (Bridge 508) between
Katima Mulilo and Sesheke in Zambia: Incremental Launching of the Deck over the entire
Bridge from West to East from West Abutment to East Abutment: First Stage is to put the
Reinforcement in to the Segment (Hollow Prestressed Beam 31,4 m long and 10,10 m wide) in
the "Reinforcing Bay"; Stage 2 (Day 1) sees the Erection of the Shuttering for
Ground slab and the two Webs of the Box Girder, after the assembled Reinforcing has been
shifted into the "Casting Bay"; At Stage 3 (Day 2) the casting of the Ground
Slab and the two Webs takes place; At Stage 4 (Day 3) the Shuttering is partly removed and
the Shuttering for the Top Slab is erected; Stage 5 (Day 4) sees the Concreting of the Top
Slab; Stage 6 (Day 5) is a Rest Day in order to provide for the Hardening of the Concrete;
At Stage 7 (Day 6) the Prestressing for the Construction Stage of the Box Girder (3 Days
Compression Strength of the Concrete: 32 MPa) takes place and at Stage 8 (Day 7, momentary
on Monday) the Launching of the 31,4 m Segment to the next Position takes place. Construction of Zambezi River Bridge (Bridge 508) between Katima
Mulilo and Sesheke in Zambia: Incremental Launching of the Deck: Third Stage: The Segment
(31,4 m long) which is casted and prestressed and ready to be pushed needs for the
Launching Process a "Launching Nose (Mass 60 Tons)" in order to minimise
Positive and Negative Bending Moments during the Launching Process: Progress on February,
12th 2003: Construction of Zambezi River Bridge (Bridge 508) between Katima
Mulilo and Sesheke in Zambia: Incremental Launching of the Deck: Seventh Stage: The
Segment No. 7 (31,4 m long) which was casted and prestressed and is today pushed over Pier
No. 7 with an average Launching Speed of 10 m/hour: View on top of Pier 7 to the
West (Katima Mulilo Side): Progress on May, 19th 2003: Construction of Zambezi River Bridge (Bridge 508) between Katima
Mulilo and Sesheke in Zambia: Incremental Launching of the Deck: Seventh Stage: The
Segment No. 7 (31,4 m long) which was casted and prestressed and is today pushed over Pier
No. 7 with an average Launching Speed of 10 m/hour: View on top of Pier 7 to the
East (Sesheke Side) : Progress on May, 19th 2003: The Reinforcing Steel in the Reinforcing Bay will be pushed into
the into the Casting Bay which is to be seen in the Foreground: Progress: May 2003 Construction of Zambezi River Bridge (Bridge 508) between Katima
Mulilo and Sesheke in Zambia: Incremental Launching of the Deck: Seventh Stage: The
Segment No. 7 (31,4 m long) which was casted and prestressed and is today pushed over Pier
No. 7 with an average Launching Speed of 10 m/hour: View from the western Abutment:
The total Deck Mass is currently 5 000 t: With a Friction Value of 0,02% the Launching
Force is 100 t (initially: 300t): At the End, with the total Length of the Box Girder
pushed over the River into the final Position, the total Deck Mass will be 13
000 t with a Launching Force of 260 t (750 t): Progress on May, 19th 2003: During the Launching Process the Prestressing Strings have to be
grouted from Time to Time: Progress: May 2003 Construction of Zambezi River Bridge (Bridge 508) between Katima
Mulilo and Sesheke in Zambia: View to the East: Progress on May, 19th 2003: Construction of Zambezi River Bridge (Bridge 508) between Katima
Mulilo and Sesheke in Zambia: View to the West: Progress on May, 19th 2003: Construction of Zambezi River Bridge (Bridge 508) between Katima
Mulilo and Sesheke in Zambia: View to the East from the Katima Mulilo Side: The Box Girder
Deck will reach the Sesheke Bank in August/September 2003: After this Date the final
Bridge Bearings have to be mounted and the entire Bridge has to be prestressed for the
Design Traffic Loads: The Bridge will be completed on Schedule and opened to Traffic
during April 2004 |
14.05. | Hompa Kassian Shiyambi is inaugurated as new Gciriku Chief in Ndiyona in the Kavango Region. |
25.05. | Sixty one escapees of the secessionist conflict in the Caprivi Region return from Botswana to Namibia. |
28.05. | The Deputy Minister for Mines and Energy, Klaus Dierks, is successful to secure preliminary pledges from the European Union in Brussels for the funding of the first Windpark power generating project in Sub-Saharan Africa at Lüderitz (at least 20 MW to be economically feasible). He proposes the project as a keynote speaker at the Africa Energy Forum in Amsterdam. In a second development Dierks announces that a large Indian government and business delegation visits the country looking for partners to start a factory to construct solar panels. This could boost Namibias image to become the leading African country for renewable energies. This could accelerate rural electrification by means of sun energy. A proposed Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Test Facility (REEE) would conduct performance and quality testing of renewable energy technologies before they would be disseminated in Namibia. |
29.05. | A scandal is caused by the extravagant wedding celebration of the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Abraham Iyambo because he accepts high gifts from the fishing industry to pay for the festivities. Consequently the DTA requests the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate whether this represents a conflict of interest (03.06.). Iyambo defends his actions as normal and appropriate (21.06.). President Sam Nujoma puts the discussion to rest by defending the minister (30.06.). The findings of the Ombudsman, however, comes to the conclusion that indeed the affair represents a conflict of interest (end of 1999), without any further consequences. |
09.06. | In the National Assembly the long overdue Communal Land Reform Bill is tabled. This piece of legislation addresses the misuse of land in the communal areas where the politically and socially strong members of society exploit an area not regulated by law so far on expense of the weak. |
15.06. | On his way to the inauguration of the newly elected South African President, Thabo Mbeki, the new Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, stops over in Windhoek. |
18.06. | The Deputy Minister for Mines and Energy, Klaus Dierks, makes known that the planned 750 MW Kudu gas power plant near Oranjemund will be constructed until the year 2005 (the Shell concern which is responsible for the development of the gas power plant, withdraws, however, for economic reasons in 2002. Due to the rising Namibian electricity requirements the possibility of the establishment of a Lower Kunene Basin Hydro Power Plant becomes a distinct possibility. Except the Baynes Mountains and the Epupa Falls there are several more sites for such a hydro power station for approx. 300 MW). Dierks also announces that he received assurances from the European Union in Brussels that the union would continue to support Namibias mining sector under the Sysmin II system (French: Système Minièr)(Sysmin I: until the year 2000). It was agreed that funds of the Sysmin II could be used to build the road from Aus to Rosh Pinah and Oranjemund as an asphalt road in order to serve the new Scorpion Mine near Rosh Pinah and the Kudu Gas Field. Funds from Sysmin II could be furthermore used to dredge the Port of Walvis Bay to a depth of 12,8 m in order to make it even more competitive as a regional hub. Other Sysmin II projects include an environmental management plan to rehabilitate old mining sites and to continue with the geological mapping of Namibia. |
23.06. | Immanuel Gottlieb
"Maxuilili" Nathaniel dies in a car accident near Walvis Bay.
Memorial for Gottlieb Nathaniel near the Accident Spot at the
Junction of Main Road 36 with District Road 1983 east of Walvis Bay |
End June | President Sam Nujoma visits the Peoples Republic of China, followed by a visit to India (21./23.07.) and Malaysia as well as Singapore and Mauritius (30.07./01.08.). |
07.07. | The efforts at the diplomatic front to end the war in the DRC show first results. A cease fire agreement is signed in Lusaka. Namibia is one of the signatories. |
13.07. | President Sam Nujoma announces that Namibia will withdraw her troops from the DRC the moment an international peace keeping force will be effected in this war torn country. |
31.07. | The COD determines in chaotic elections its party leadership. Ben Ulenga is elected as Chairman. The former Permanent Secretary for Trade and Industry, Tsudao Gurirab, becomes Secretary-General. |
02.08. | Fifty members of the secessionist Caprivi guerillas return to Namibia. They attack the police station, the military base and the radio station of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in Katima Mulilo. There are several casualties and injuries on both sides. President Sam Nujoma calls a state of emergency in the Caprivi Region (until 25.08.). Some people, accused to be involved into the secessionist plot, are apprehended, including the DTA member of the National Assembly, Geoffrey Mwilima who is maltreated during the arrest. Apparently the secessionist movement is supported by the Angolese UNITA and by another secessionist Lozi group from Zambia. |
12.08. | The Deputy Minister for Mines and Energy, Klaus Dierks, opens a workshop on non-grid power in Windhoek. In order to speed up rural electrification in order to close the "power gap" between the developed and underdeveloped parts of Namibia, the Ministry of Mines and Energy and NamPower are looking into the possibility of non-grid solutions such as renewable energies like solar energy, wind power and biogas generation. In order to improve the efficiency in the energy sector the institutional restructuring of the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) would take place in the foreseeable future. |
16.08. | The dark clouds of the final liquidation of the Tsumeb Corporation Limited (TCL) move away. With the direct engagement of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, a joint venture between the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) and some managers and employees of the former TCL becomes a distinct reality. The new company intends to put a final offer for the assets of the TCL on the table. The new and positive development comes after the direct involvement of the Deputy Minister for Mines and Energy, Klaus Dierks, who even used his private assets as temporary guarantee in order to safe the Tsumeb mines. Dierks warns that the sale of the mining concern to the Namibian joint venture is now the last possibility to safeguard the mines in the national interest. The new company will be registered under the name Ongopolo Mining and Processing Limited (OMPL). Directors of OMPL are Andre Neethling, HG Nolte, AMG Thomson and HJ Louw from the former TCL as well as CR Haikali, JN Nghifindaka and Peter Naholo from the MUN. This promising development has the objective to create a Namibia controlled company with strong links between government, the trade unions and management. But there are still obstacles on the path to the revival of the Tsumeb mines. A meeting of the major creditors on 22.10. decides to sell the copper mines at Kombat, Otjihase, Khusib Springs and the copper smelter in Tsumeb by open tender (the copper mine at Tsumeb had closed in 1996 due to the exhaustion of the ore). The decision is prompted by the inability of the competitor to OMPL, the Australian led buyer, Namibian Copper Corporation Limited (NCCL, previously known as Metals and Mining Corporation of Namibia), to convince the creditors that it has satisfactory guarantees of its financial backing. OMPL is finally the successful bidder in the assets of the Tsumeb concern and opens the way to the revival of the once mighty mining company (10.03.2000). |
18.08. | The Executive Secretary for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Gaborone, Botswana, Kaire Mbuende, is forced to resign. |
14.09. | Namibias Minister of Foreign Affairs, Theo-Ben Gurirab, who was elected as Chairman of the UN General Assembly for the period 1999/2000 in 1998, takes over the chairmanship for the 54th session of the Assembly. |
October | The relationship between South Africa and her regional SACU partners including Namibia is strained by the signing of a Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement between South Africa and the European Union (EU). This agreement is due to become effective in January 2000. The deal will gradually remove tariffs on 95 percent of South African exports to the EU, and on 86 percent of South African imports from the EU, over a transition period lasting 10 to 12 years. Much to the displeasure of Namibia and other SACU countries, South Africa did little to include the rest of SACU in the negotiations for this Free Trade Area, and as a result the impacts of the FTA agreement upon the SACU community were hardly taken into account. |
09.10. | President Sam Nujoma announces the date for the general elections for the National Assembly and the Office of the President: 30.11. and 01.12. |
10.10. | The Deputy Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ignatius Shixwameni, leaves the SWAPO-Party and joins the COD. He will remain the only prominent SWAPO member who becomes member in the new party. Gabriel Shihepo becomes Shixwamenis successor as Deputy Minister. |
13.10. | The Deputy Minister for Mines and Energy, Klaus Dierks, informs the Deputy Secretary-General of the SWAPO-Party, John Pandeni, that he will not avail himself any more as a candidate for the general elections for the National Assembly and that he intends to quit political life. He is, however, prepared to continue to give his full power as engineer and historian to the Namibian people and the SWAPO-Party, which he belongs to since 1982. |
25.10. | It is official announced that several SWAPO of the National Assembly, including the Attorney General, have decided to bow out of parliamentary politics. Attorney General Vekuui Rukoro, his predecessor Hartmut Ruppel, Works, Transport and Communication Minister Oskar Valentin Plichta, Mines and Energy Deputy Minister Klaus Dierks, former Minister of Finance Gerd Hanekom and Environment Deputy Minister Nangolo Ithete are all quitting public life. Other SWAPO members of the National Assembly are not elected to the SWAPO party list. They are Youth and Sport Minister Richard Kapelwa-Kabajani (who later becomes Namibias ambassador to Cuba), Labour Deputy Minister Walter Kemba, Prisons Deputy Minister Michaela Hübschle, Brave Tjizera, Anna Bayer, Eduard Goeieman and Ellen Musialela. Other prominent SWAPO members land on hopeless positions on the party list like Niko Bessinger, Jacob Nghifindaka, Siegfried Wohler, Ella Kamanya, Daniel Kamho, Israel Kalenga, Gertrud Kandanga-Hilukilwa, Stan Webster and Gerhard Tötemeyer. |
04.11. | It is announced that a national office of Transparency International (IT) will be established in Windhoek. A report of IT places Namibia on rank 29 of 99 countries on the IT corruption scale (5,3 plus points of 10 possible points). |
09.11. | Prime Minister, Hage Gottfried Geingob makes known that an independent Anti-Corruption Unit will be established next year. |
30.11./01.12. | The general elections for the National Assembly and the Office of the President take place. SWAPO increases her majority from 73,89% to 76,15% in the National Assembly (408 174 of 536 036 valid votes) and reaches a three-quarter majority in the National Assembly. The second direct elections for the Office of the President results in a convincing vote of confidence by the Namibian people into President Sam Nujoma who now enters his third term in office. The new COD achieves 9,94 of the votes and becomes the second strongest party in the National Assembly, just before the DTA with only 9,48%. It is clear that the COD has drawn their voters from the opposition parties and not from the SWAPO base. The UDF reaches 2,93% of the votes. The Monitor Action Group (MAG)) of Kosie Pretorius retains its one seat. The election observers of the European Union come to the conclusion that the 1999 general elections are free and fair, with some smaller restrictions. |
05.12. | Gerd Hanekom dies in Windhoek. The state funeral takes place on 08.12. |
13.12. | The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague gives his judgement in favour of Botswana on the disputed boundary around the Kasikili Island which was a point of conflict between Namibia and Botswana for so many years. The ICJ decision is accepted by both countries as final and binding. |
18.12. | The Permanent Joint Technical Commission (PJTC) of Angola and Namibia is postponed until next year. Also a decision on a Lower Kunene Basin Hydro Power Plant (Epupa Hydro-Power Scheme) is not taken yet. Angola favours a hydro power plant at the Baynes Mountains while Namibia prefers a plant at the Epupa Falls. According to a statement of the PJTC, a final choice of the site will have to be agreed upon by the two governments from the recommendations of the PJTC. A decision is expected by the middle of 2000 (still not decided at date (early 2003)). |
End December | Namibia is getting directly involved in the ongoing civil war in Angola. Namibia leaves the path of neutrality between the Angolese Government and UNITA it had so far followed. With approval of the Namibian Government Angolese government forces attack UNITA forces from bases within Namibian territory. The Kavango Region becomes involved in war actions until the end of the Angolese civil war (death of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi on 02.02.2002 in the Moxico Province in southeastern Angola). |