1965-1988 Prof Peter Hitjitevi Katjavivi
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Katjavivi, PH PA 1 THE KATJAVIVI COLLECTION: 1965-1988 PROF PETER HITJITEVI KATJAVIVI: 1941 - Biographical Note Professor Peter Katjavivi was born on 12 May 1941 in Okahandja, Namibia. He travelled into exile in 1966 and was part of the Dar es Salaam exiles that helped transform SWAPO into an international force in the struggle for the liberation of Namibia. Until 1979 he was a fulltime SWAPO activist running the London office and holding the movement’s Information and Publicity post. From the 1980s, he pursued his academic career which saw him gaining a Master’s degree in 1980 from the University of Warwick, UK and a Doctor of Philosophy in1986 from St Anthony’s College, University of Oxford. In 1989, he was elected to the Constituent Assembly and served as National Assembly member until 1991. In 1992 he was named the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia, a post he held for eleven years. He was appointed as Professor in History by the UNAM Academic Council Staff Appointments Committee in 1994. He was given a diplomatic posting in 2003. Peter Katjavivi has also been very active as SWAPO’s documenter of the liberation struggle. His book, ‘A History of Resistance in Namibia’ (James Currey, 1988) is still widely referred to in academic works on recent Namibian history. Currently, he is the Director-General of the National Planning Commission. THE COLLECTION Summary The collection, covering the period 1965 to 1988 (but also holding some documents from as far back as 1915) consists mainly of SWAPO documents on activities in and outside Namibia during the time for the struggle for the liberation of Namibia (See summary of classes below). Among other things, the collection richly covers background information on Namibia, and the history of the struggle, including the general struggle for liberation in the southern African region. The collection also gives insight to the diverse ethnic groups in Namibia and the varying cultural differences which also influenced the way the struggle was carried out. The issues of the education system in Namibia, and the role of women in the struggle are also covered in this collection. The role of the church during the war is also widely covered, as well as conflicts within the SWAPO party. The impact of Germany occupation is widely covered. The collection also holds a lot of SWAPO publicity and campaign material and press statements during the war and at the time of transition to independence. The role of the United Nations in Namibia’s liberation is also widely covered. The collection also holds a lot of SWAPO reports, and those of commissions of inquiry as well as other reports from other bodies and individuals on Namibia. Cuttings from various newspapers on events in Namibia or relating to Namibia especially during the 1970s and 1980s form a significant part of this collection. The collection also contains various other publications some by SWAPO but others by other organizations reporting on the struggle for the liberation of Namibia. Theses relating to Namibia are also part of the collection. The collection consists of 81 boxes or 20 cubic feet of paper documents. 1 Katjavivi, PH PA 1 Arrangement of documents Most of the documents in this collection were filed according to subjects, and an attempt has been made during the formulation of this catalogue to try to classify them. Also, the classes given reflect the majority of items contained in a single file, but does not mean that the file contains only that type of class. For instance, a file with reports would contain mostly reports but also a few other documents which are not reports, but may be related to the subject of the file. In cases where a file contains other important documents which are not covered in the general description, the archivist would mention these specifically where the description says ‘includes also’. Note, however, that this does not cover everything in the file except those which the archivist deemed to require special mention because of their importance. However, there is also a substantive amount of files in this collection that have been classified as miscellaneous as they could not fit in any of the classes given. Thus, most of the files classified as ‘miscellaneous’ contain a mixture of documents with none dominating to warrant a single classification. This is to be expected from a collection which was more of an individual/private collection and not an official collection from a formal administrative office where one would expect to find a formal filing system. References PA 1 (Private Archives 1) – this is the reference to the whole Katjavivi collection. From there, each class of records has a sub-number, e.g. 1 – Correspondence; 2 – Articles; 3 – Calendars Thus, to order the third file from the class ‘Articles’, one would order PA 1/ 2/3. In some cases there are further sub-numbers to the list. The Papers Donated to UNAM by Mr Peter Katjavivi in 199x Processed Finding aid prepared by Violet Matangira in November 2009. 2 Katjavivi, PH PA 1 DESCRIPTION OF ARCHIVES SUMMARY OF SERIES 1 CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER PAPERS 2 ARTICLES 3 CALENDARS 4 CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS 5 CONSTITUTIONS & CHARTERS 6 MEMORANDA 7 MICROFILMS 8 MINUTES 9 NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS 10 POEMS & SONGS 11 POSTERS, FLYERS, STICKERS 12 PRESS RELEASES 13 PROPOSALS 14 PUBLICATIONS 15 REPORTS 16 SPEECHES AND MEMORANDA 17 STATEMENTS, AFFIDAVITS, INTERVIEWS & HEARINGS & DECLARATIONS 18 TELEGRAMS 19 THESES 20 MISCELLANEUOS 3 Katjavivi, PH PA 1 DESCRIPTION OF ARCHIVES PA 1/1 CORRESPONDENCE AND OTHER PAPERS 1 Chief Tshekedi Khama: 1946-1958 Copies. On the displacement of the Herero people, and efforts to return them to their land. Includes letters to and from the Rev Michael Scott in Bechuanaland, Chief Tshekedi Khama, and Chief Hosea Kutako. Also includes information on the Damara, San and other African ethnic groups in Namibia and Botswana, and the land issue; abstract of theses on Khama III (1973). 2 Foreign Service of the United States of America – Department of State, Washington: 1950-1954 3 Churches in Namibia and East & Central Africa: 1967-1987 The World Council of Churches, Southwest African Churches on apartheid, Includes a report of the visit to Namibia by the delegation sent by the British Council of Churches in Namibia (1981); statement by Churches in Namibia, and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches on the Namibia struggle. 4 SWAPO and Bishop Winter: 1972-1982 Mainly correspondence between SWAPO leaders (Sam Nujoma, Peter Katjavivi, Hifikipunye Pohamba, Kapuka Naujala) and Bishop Winter, the Bishop of the Damara in Exile; the work of the church, the SWAPO farm in Zambia, Includes copies of pamphlets by SWAPO, Interview with Prof. Eber on the situation in Namibia (22 Oct 1976); SWAPO meeting on 7 June 1975; Ovamboland elections (Jan 1975); “Namibia – the time for action”; pamphlet “Namibia Support Committee – SWAPO Women’s Campaign”; remarks made by Martha Ford, member of the SWAPO Central Committee (Mar 1979); memoranda from the political bureau of SWAPO Central Committee to Presidents of the Front-Line States (March 1980); SWAPO declaration (4 Jan 1979); SWAPO Press Conference given by Moses Garoeb (12 Aug 1979). 5 Shipanga, Esme and Bishop Winter on arrested husband, Andreas: 1976-1978 Includes testimony of Andreas Shipanga (1982?); his address to the Royal Institute of International Affairs; letters from Solomon Mifima and Andreas Nuukuawo to Bishop Winter (1976) on their abduction in Zambia and alleged conspiracy from SWAPO leaders; the issue of SWAPO dissidents; letter from SWAPO Military Wing on why they have to meet with the OAU Liberation Committee; and other problems within the SWAPO Party. 6 Crocker, Chester A. on US-Africa relations: 1981 4 Katjavivi, PH PA 1 PA 1/1 CORRESPONDENCE & OTHER PAPERS (Cont.) 7 Peter Katjavivi on Barry Munslo’s book “Socialism in Africa”: 1984 8 Copy of cable sent by Rev. Colin Winter: 1973 Feb 23 9 Peter Katjavivi to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation: 1975 July 1 10 Danny Tjongarero, National Chairman of SWAPO to the “Big Five” on ‘thirty-one year old deadlock of Namibia’: 1977 June 17 11 Werner Hillebrecht to Peter Katjavivi on information on Catholics in Namibia: 1987 Mar 9 Includes report on visit to the Oblaten Monastery in Bingen/Rhein, Germany in 1987, and lists of [Namibian] archival and library material at Bingen. 12 Peter Katjavivi to Daniel Tjongarero on consultations done with agencies to ascertain their possible role in providing support for the [CCN] from [EEC]: 1985 May 18 13 SWAPO: 1961-1987 Includes biographical notes on SWAPO leaders (1961); copy of letter to Windhoek Advertiser (28 Dec 1961) responding to Moses Garoeb’s allegations; report on the political activities of Mburura Kerina Getzen (1962) 14 SWAPO Dissidents: 1976-1981 Documentation of activities of dissidents and efforts to identify, expel, discipline such people. Contains lists of expelled SWAPO members and their justification for their actions. Includes newspaper clippings. Also a lot on Andreas Shipanga. 15 Katjavivi, Peter on Namibia History project: 1987 Jan 27 – Feb 28 16 SWAPO Women’s Council: 1973 1985 Includes reports, notes, interviews, and the publication Namibia Women in the Struggle. 17 Copies of early archival documents on Namibia from the time of Germany occupation: 1885 – 1908 Includes letter from Captain Jan Jonker Afrikaner to Dr Nachitigal. Some of the letters are in English and others in German. 18 Berthold Himumuine: 1955 July 21 Includes paper on new South African Laws on Western Areas Removal Scheme; and information on circular regarding leases to missions in African locations (South Africa) 5 Katjavivi, PH PA 1 PA 1/1 CORRESPONDENCE & OTHER PAPERS (Cont.) 19 Africa Bureau papers, South West Africa – South West African people’s appeals to the various bodies including the United Nations, the Queen of England, the Pope, the Church of England, etc.: 1946 – 1981 20 Henning Melber on research project on the educational sector of Namibia: 1977 – 1978 Includes articles on education.