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Working for Social Democracy in Namibia Working for Social Democracy in Namibia 1989 – 2014 25 years Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Namibia Windhoek Namibia 2014 FES - Working for Social Democracy (2014) - Final for Print.indd 1 1/12/2015 8:45:53 AM © Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 2014 All rights reserved. The material in this publication may not be reproduced, stored or transmitted without the prior permission of the publisher. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Publisher’s contact details: 95 John Meinert Street, Windhoek West P.O. Box 23652, Windhoek, Namibia Telephone (+264) (0)61-417500 Fax (+264) (0)61-237441 Email [email protected] Website www.fesnam.org.na Printed by John Meinert Printing (Pty) Ltd in Windhoek, Namibia. An electronic version (PDF) of the publication is available at www.fesnam.org.na. ISBN 978-99945-79-13-6 FES - Working for Social Democracy (2014) - Final for Print.indd 2 1/12/2015 8:45:53 AM Contents Foreword ...................................................................................................................... iii Preface ............................................................................................................................ v 1 The State of Namibia’s Constitutional Democratic and Multiparty Politics (1990-2014) By Phanuel Kaapama ........................................................................................... 1 2 Economic Development in Namibia in the Last 25 Years By Leonard Kamwi ............................................................................................. 26 3 Namibia’s Labour Movement After 25 Years of Independence By Herbert Jauch ................................................................................................. 43 4 Social Protection in Namibia: Towards Establishing the Floors By Cons Karamata .............................................................................................. 76 5 The State of the Media in Namibia By Gwen Lister ..................................................................................................... 87 Contents i FES - Working for Social Democracy (2014) - Final for Print.indd 1 1/12/2015 8:45:53 AM 6 Assessing the Role of Civil Society Organisations in Namibia By Ivin Lombardt and John Nakuta Namibian Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (NANGOF) ..................... 101 7 Women’s Empowerment in Namibia By Lucy Edwards-Jauch .................................................................................... 116 8 Namibian Youth Ready for Change – “Viva the Future!” By Peik Bruhns ................................................................................................... 145 The Authors ............................................................................................................ 165 Bibliography (consolidated) .......................................................................... 169 Abbreviations and Acronyms Used in this Book ............................... 181 ii Working for Social Democracy in Namibia FES - Working for Social Democracy (2014) - Final for Print.indd 2 1/12/2015 8:45:53 AM Foreword It is my pleasure to write the foreword to this collection of contributions marking the 25th Anniversary of the opening of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) office in Namibia. This event coincides with the 25th Anniversary of Namibia’s attainment of independence (1990). This coincidence points to the fact that the FES stood with Namibia during the struggle for liberation from colonial rule; indeed the cooperation between the FES and the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) dates back to the mid-1970s. This joint anniversary celebration, and this publication, reinforce the good relationship that the FES enjoys with Namibia to date. The papers in this collection were commissioned from Namibians of different backgrounds who have enjoyed a working relationship with the FES – in most cases a long-standing professional relationship – in their respective areas of interest. Though differing in scope, the theme or foundation of all of these papers is ‘sustainable promotion of democracy and social justice through good governance’. It is against this background that I congratulate the FES for its work in Namibia over the last 25 years. I also welcome and commend this publication which I believe will provide the reader with a broad overview of FES activities in the country, thereby enhancing and promoting the understanding of the role played by this international organisation in Namibia’s development. Hon. Peter H. Katjavivi, MP Windhoek, November 2014 Foreword iii FES - Working for Social Democracy (2014) - Final for Print.indd 3 1/12/2015 8:45:54 AM Omusati Ohangwena ANGOLA ZAMBIA Zambezi Oshikoto Kavango West Kavango Kunene Oshana East Etosha Pan Otjozondjupa Omaheke Erongo Windhoek Khomas BOTSWANA ATLANTIC OCEAN Hardap ||Karas SOUTH AFRICA iv Working for Social Democracy in Namibia FES - Working for Social Democracy (2014) - Final for Print.indd 4 1/12/2015 8:45:54 AM Preface In November 2014, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the opening of its office in Namibia. Although the cooperation with Namibia’s liberation movement dates back to the mid-1970s, FES and the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) agreed that an FES office should be opened only once the process for Namibia’s independence had become irreversible. In autumn of 1989, following the elections for the Constituent Assembly, FES Headquarters appointed Peter Schellschmidt, who had been organising the FES support from Germany, as the first FES Representative in Namibia. Very soon thereafter, the FES began to operate in Windhoek from a residential house in Heinitzburg Street and an enclosed complex in Burg Street, known as “The Forum”. Still constrained by the conditions of apartheid (curfews, permanent police controls and so on), the FES organised regular public discussions at The Forum concerning Namibia’s future. This very popular venue quickly became a ‘liberation hallmark’ and a place regularly frequented by SWAPO leaders and representatives of other societal groups. Also, still prior to the formation of the first Government of Namibia, the FES commenced with training programmes for politicians, government executives, labour leaders and civil society organisations. The training portfolio included dialogues between Namibian and German delegations of politicians, which contributed greatly to a better understanding of the issues of the day. In addition, the FES extended the exchange between Namibian institutions and their counterparts in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The strong bond between Namibia and the FES was cemented further in 1996 when the founding President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, during a state trip to Germany, paid his second visit to FES Headquarters in Bonn. He had first visited in 1985 as the leader of SWAPO. Today the FES takes great pleasure in revisiting the countless records of activities conducted with and for its Namibian partners. The areas of FES activity in Namibia over the last 25 years include the following: Preface v FES - Working for Social Democracy (2014) - Final for Print.indd 5 1/12/2015 8:45:55 AM z Cooperation with political parties, the National Assembly, the SADC Parliamentary Forum, the labour movement (union federations and their affiliates), civil society organisation, the media, research institutions and youth leaders. Much of this cooperation included training. z For more than 15 years, the FES has supported the promotion of a policy framework for Small and Medium Enterprises in close cooperation with the industry chambers. z Decentralisation and training of local structures have constituted an area of work for more than 10 years. z Since 1992, the FES Namibia office has been the Africa hub of fesmedia (the FES media project run in Africa, Asia and Latin America), supporting and guiding the continental debate on media freedom and the policy, legal and regulatory framework for Africa’s media. z Namibian experts are often invited to join international conferences on political, social and economic issues organised by FES offices elsewhere. z The FES has awarded scholarships to qualified Namibian in various fields. z In Germany the FES continually contributes to the dissemination of information about the democratic and modern Republic of Namibia. The 25th Anniversary of the FES in Namibia closely coincides with the 25th Anniversary of Namibian Independence in March 2015. The FES therefore saw fit to produce an ‘anniversary publication’ which provides an overview of the most relevant developments since Independence in the main areas of work in which the FES is presently involved: democracy; the labour movement; economic development; civil society organisations; the media; gender; youth; and social protection. The articles in this publication are written by well-known Namibian experts in a style which, it is hoped, will attract young Namibians’ interest in the developments of the last 25 years. The FES is looking forward to the next 25 years of cooperation with its Namibian partners. For as long as there is demand for the social dimensions of democracy, the FES on the whole will continue to promote democracy and social justice, and will contribute to peace and security, and will work to make globalisation socially equitable. Heiner Naumann FES Resident Representative in Namibia Windhoek, November 2014 vi Working for Social Democracy in Namibia FES - Working
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