by Kizito Sikuka – SANF 15 no 11
Southern Africa and the rest of the global community will this week join Namibia in commemorating its 25 years of independence from South African apartheid occupation.
The celebrations will coincide with the inauguration of Dr. Hage Geingob as the third president of independent Namibia.
Both events will take place on 21 March at the Independence Stadium in the capital Windhoek, and will be witnessed by several regional leaders including those from the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
So what do the two landmark occasions mean for Namibia, and the rest of the southern African region?
“To the Namibian people…as from today, we are the masters of this vast land of our ancestors. The destiny of this country is now fully in our own hands. We should, therefore, look forward to the future with confidence and hope,” Namibian first independent president Sam Nujoma said in his inaugural speech in 1990.
And indeed, 25 years on, Namibia has made significant strides in harnessing its resources to develop the country and provide a better life for its citizens.
For example, more people now have access to education, land, health, water, and service delivery.
“Without any doubt, today Namibia is certainly a better place to live in than it was nearly 25 years ago,” director general of the National Planning Commission (NPC) of Namibia, Tom Alweendo said, adding that a number of indicators show remarkable progress since independence in 1990.
“We now have more education and health facilities than before and the literacy rate has increased from 76 percent in 2001 to 98 percent in 2011.”
He said the number of people living in poverty has also declined from about 70 percent in 2001 to 28 percent in 2011.
On the political scene, Namibia has maintained peace, security and stability, ensuring a conducive environment for the country to develop its economy.
“Multi-party democratic elections have been held in our country at all levels over the years, demonstrating our steadfast commitment to upholding and preserving our chosen system of governance,” said President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who will hand over power to Dr Geingob on 21 March.
“We are proud that the peaceful transfer of political power in our country has become the norm, rather than the exception.”
Therefore, the inauguration of Dr. Geingob on 21 March as the third president of independent Namibia is a clear testimony that democracy and democratic principles have firmly taken root in the SADC region.
For example, in January this year SADC witnessed a peaceful power transition in Mozambique that saw President Filipe Nyusi take over power from Armando Guebuza.
As such, Nyusi and Dr. Geingob are expected to continue with the work of their predecessors to develop their respective countries and deepen regional integration in SADC.
“One thing I want the nation to understand is that I will never run a one man show,” Dr Geingob said in early March, when he announced his cabinet, adding that he will be a servant of all the people of Namibia.
He said he will also consult widely with his predecessors who are “stalwarts of the liberation struggle.”
“We must continue to tap from their wisdom that of Presidents Nujoma and Pohamba because they are stalwarts of the liberation struggle who bring a combined 25 years of experience of serving as presidents.”
Nujoma and Pohamba were presidents of Namibia from 1990 to 2005, and 2005 to 2015 respectively.
Namibia achieved its independence from South African apartheid occupation in 1990. However, the liberation history of Namibia was achieved in various stages.
For example, from 1884, Namibia was a German colony commonly referred to as German South-West Africa.
After the First World War, the League of Nations mandated South Africa to administer the territory.
Following World War II, the League of Nations was dissolved in 1946 and its successor, the United Nations, instituted a Trusteeship system to bring all of the former German colonies in Africa under UN control.
However, South Africa objected arguing that a majority of the territory’s people were content with South African rule.
In 1966, the UN General Assembly decided to end the mandate, declaring that South Africa had no other right to administer the territory and that henceforth South-West Africa was to come under the direct responsibility of the UN.
Many SADC and African countries provided moral and material support to Namibia to liberate the country from apartheid colonialism. sardc.net
