| 1902 | The colony’s imports are
worth 8 567 550 Mark and its exports 2 212 973 Mark. A total of 4 682 white settlers (17% of them soldiers) live in SWA. A heliograph link is established between Karibib and Outjo. A Roman Catholic mission station is established at Aminuis. Swakopmund gets a military hospital, the Prinzessin Rupprecht Heim. The lighthouse at Swakopmund is built. Finnish missionaries build a clinic at Onayena in Ovamboland. The Finnish Missionary Society reopens the mission station at Rehoboth (Okahao/ Ongandjera). The Uukwaluudhi King Shikongo shIipinge dies. He is followed by the ninth King Niilenga yAmukwa (1902-1908). German schools are erected at Keetmanshoop, Grootfontein and Swakopmund. The trader August Geik visits the Caprivi Strip after setting out from Grootfontein. He trades in cattle and crosses the Chobe River with the assistance of Simata Mamili of Linyanti in the Fwe area (New Linyanti – not to be confused with Linyanti near Sangwali, the old capital of the Kololo area). A total of 116 212 litres of alcohol is sold, of which 2 100 litres are sold to indigenes. A "native reserve" (50 000 ha) for the Kai||khaun is created at Hoachanas. Christopher James estimates that the copper ore reserves at Tsumeb to be 300 000 t with 12,6% copper and 25,3% lead. The Damara Copper Syndicate tries to re-open the Matchless Mine. Due to the high transport costs this is again not feasible. |
| 31.01. | Leutwein, still not in a hurry to establish "native reserves" in Hereroland, gives orders to investigate the possibilities for reserves in the Windhoek, Omaruru, Karibib and Gobabis districts. Samuel Maharero experiences increasing resistance to the sale of land in Okahandja. The construction of the state railway between Swakopmund and Windhoek is the main reason for this. |
| 16.02. | District Chief of Grootfontein Richard Volkmann declares that "over-hasty planning of native reserves would simply handicap the economic activities of the territory, such as railway construction and mining". |
| 05.03. | The Okapuka locale is sold by Samuel Maharero. |
| 14.03. | Missionary Diehl expresses concern about the future of the Ovaherero congregation of Otjiseva due to the fact that Samuel Maharero has sold this place to traders to pay his debts. |
| May | The Survey Office reports that 116 roads have been surveyed in the territory, with a total distance of 18 826 km. |
| 07.06. | A commission is appointed by the
German Government to investigate the problem of the credit system and how
"natives" should settle their debts to traders. The credit regulations outlawing
the sale of "tribal" land to curb abuses, lead to the traders using even harsher
methods to claim arrears. This increase in trading activity brings more problems for Samuel Maharero. Traders, such as John William Wallace of Okombahe, hold him responsible for the debts of his subjects. |
| 17.06. |
The state railway line from Swakopmund reaches Windhoek (382 km; 1 526,19 m above sea level). The ox-wagon is no longer the only means of transport. |
| 19.06. | The first train from Swakopmund reaches Windhoek. |
| 01.07. | The state railway line between Swakopmund and Windhoek is officially inaugurated. |
| 31.07. | District Chief of Okahandja, Zürn, relieves the pressure on Samuel Maharero by declaring that "while Samuel himself still has unpaid debts, he could not accept responsibility for the debts of others". |
| 01.08. | A heliograph link between Windhoek and Outjo via Omaruru and Okowakuatjiwi (later renamed Kalkfeld) is officially opened. |
| 05.09. | Justus Kavizeri dies. |
| 22.12. | A local telephone network is established in Windhoek. |
| End 1902 | August Gerber visits Ovambo Kings Nehale and Kambonde kaMpingana, as well as King Ueyulu ya Hedimbi of the Uukwanyama area and the mission station Ondjiva. |
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