Focus on Namibia Namibia: Unfinished business within the ruling party

There is a new president at the helm, but the jostling for position within the ruling Swapo party, which started in 2004, has not ended. Would the adversaries’ long-held dream that the strongest and most viable opposition in Namibia emerges from within the ranks of Swapo itself, come true? Axaro Gurirab reports from Windhoek.

“Can you believe it: the sun is still significant and gallant contribution to the These questions are relevant because rising in the East and setting in the West!” So democratisation of Africa. during the week leading up to the May 2004 exclaimed a colleague of mine on the occasion The political transition had seen a heated extraordinary congress, Nujoma fired of the inauguration of President Hifikepunye contest between three Swapo heavyweights, Hamutenya as foreign minister, as well as the Pohamba on 21 March 2005. This simple namely Swapo vice-president Hifikepunye then deputy foreign minister, Kaire Mbuende. observation was quite profound because until Pohamba, current prime minister Nahas Angula, It was thought at the time that Nujoma, who then many people had been at their wits’ end and former foreign affairs minister Hidipo was personally campaigning for Pohamba, took trying to imagine Namibia without Sam Nujoma, Hamutenya. these drastic steps in order to send a strong the president of the ruling Swapo party. At the extraordinary party congress in May message to the congress delegates about who He had been the country’s first president, 2004, Angula fell out in the first round, and he liked and did not like. for three consecutive terms of five years each Pohamba ended up winning the second round The “persecution” of Hamutenya did not – from 21 March 1990 until 20 March 2005. The overwhelmingly against Hamutenya. Pohamba stop there, however. At the party’s electoral constitution limits the presidential terms to two, continued his winning ways as Swapo presiden- conference in October 2004 to select the par- but a special amendment made it possible for tial candidate during the national elections in liamentary party list, Nujoma produced a list Nujoma to serve a third term. November 2004, obtaining more than 75% of of names which he said had been drawn up by Therefore, on 21 March 2005, Namibia took the votes. imperialist agents. Needless to say, Hamutenya a bold step in its political transition, thus The question on everyone’s lips is: Will was on the top of the list, as were his closest disproving the Afro-pessimists who had in Swapo survive? Or will this political behemoth and not so close comrades. And for the first typical fashion prophesied a traumatic dooms- collapse under its own self-weight? Have the time in independent Namibia, Hamutenya and day scenario for a post-Nujoma dispensation. On losing factions within the party really accepted some prominent party cadres did not make its part, Namibia once more made a historically their fate? it to parliament. It was only towards the end Politics Namibia: Unfinished business within the ruling party

of last year, by an ironic twist of history, that ain’t seen nothing yet!” Hamutenya remains a his speeches and actions. For instance, he has Hamutenya moved up the party list to replace dominant figure within Swapo, having been the included the leader of the official opposition in Paulus Kapia, who was forced to resign follow- party’s chief of propaganda and strategic king- one of his official state visits to neighbouring ing allegations of corruption involving millions pin for many years. countries, and has attended a church service of of US dollars in the highly controversial Avid/ Ironically, some analysts state that he is in the conservative Dutch Reformed Church. Social Security Commission scandal. All of these fact the driving force of Swapo and that he, Unlike his tough-talking, finger-wagging, and other developments in the ruling party are wittingly or unwittingly, helped to turn Nujoma imperialist and boer-bashing predecessor, causing many people to believe that there is a into the powerful force that he is today. So, will Pohamba has created the impeccable image of lot of jostling for position beneath the surface, the congress be the final showdown between a “president for everyone”. Only a few weeks which is expected to reach boiling point as time the two party heavyweights? Will it be the pro- ago, he appointed Kaire Mbuende, Hamutenya’s approaches for the next ordinary congress of verbial fight of the titans? Will it be the ultimate strongest supporter, as Namibia’s ambassador Swapo in or around August 2007. fight of the two elephants that could cause the to the UN. Pohamba has also taken a strong All sorts of questions are now popping up: grass underneath to suffer? stance against corruption, and has demon- Will Nujoma stay on as party president? Will he Third scenario: As a com- strated this by expediting stage a comeback as country president? Will promise to cool off the over- the establishment of the Pohamba become the new party president, and heating party engine, new Anti-Corruption Commission thus serve a second term as country president? candidates could be put for- (ACC). First among those to be Has Hamutenya disappeared from the scene ward. These people, for obvi- tripped by the anti-corruption completely, or is he, the master strategist that ous reasons, are lying low and drive was the tough-talking he is, brewing up a stunning campaign? Are are flying below the radar. Nujoma loyalist, Paulus Kapia, there going to be any surprise candidates? Will a Names that come to mind, party youth leader and former new party emerge after the congress? although they are still linked deputy minister of works, Several scenarios are worth investigating: to one or other factions in the transport and communication. First scenario: There are many analysts party, are: Tuliameni Kalo- The success or failure of who postulate that Nujoma will stay on as party moh, a seasoned diplomat Pohamba’s commitment to president and will stage a comeback during who was previously deputy the fight against corruption the 2009 elections. The argument goes that minister of foreign affairs and will, in large measure, depend the national constitution limits the presidency currently the UN assistant on how many other big fish to two consecutive terms. Thus, after “sitting secretary general for political will be shown the red card on the bench” for one term during Pohamba’s affairs; Saara Kuugogelwa- that he symbolically flashed at presidency, Nujoma theoretically qualifies for Amadhila, current minister the official launch of the ACC. another two terms! This, according to most of finance; Abraham Iyambo, Above: The new man at the helm: When all has been said people, is the worst case scenario, and they current minister of fisheries President Hifikepunye Pohamba and done, it remains to be swear by the heavens that Nujoma is seriously and marine resources; John Opposite left: Time to leave: The said that the way forward considering this possibility. Pandeni, currently the party’s founding president, Sam Nujoma, cannot and will not be without Alternatively, Nujoma will retire peacefully deputy secretary general and says farewell to his staff, on his last casualties. Like any living as party president, paving the way for Pohamba minister of regional, local day in office, 18 March 2005 organism, a nation must deal to become new party president and to serve a government, housing and with its own internal contra- second term as country president. This will also rural development. dictions – the learned comrades call it the dia- open up the party vice-president position to a These and other interesting scenarios are lectics of the liberation struggle. new candidate, who is widely believed to be a hot topics at shebeens, funerals, weddings, Ideologically, there is of necessity a process woman. football matches, and other social events. The of birth, growth, death and rebirth, thus leading Among the woman candidates are Libertine mother of all the scenarios, however, is that the to higher and higher levels of revolutionary con- Amathila, the current deputy prime minister, faction that loses out at the congress will form a sciousness. The people will continue to strive to Netumbo Nadi-Ndaitwah, current minister of new party to contest the national and presiden- re-invent and re-configure themselves until they information and broadcasting, and Pendukeni tial elections in 2009. reach some form of equilibrium. Unfortunately, Livula-Ithana, current attorney general and So who will head the new party: Nujoma, there are external destabilising forces that are minister of justice. Pohamba or Hamutenya? And what could be hell-bent on aborting this process, unless there Amathila is in her mid-60s, and this could the name of the new party: the Real Swapo? Or are committed cadres who continually monitor count against her. Netumbo-Ndaitwah is known Napo (the Namibian Peoples’ Organisation)? and control the process. to be a Hamutenya supporter, and thus her This possibility has been the dream of Swapo’s There is need for a resurgence of national- fate could depend on how Hamutenya plays his adversaries who continue to believe that the istic ideology by thinkers and activists that will cards at the congress. Livula-Ithana is a strong strongest and most viable opposition in Namibia continue to extol the virtues of the struggle, and Nujoma loyalist, and with Pohamba at the helm, will emerge from within the ranks of Swapo to re-interpret the recent developments in a she could benefit from Nujoma’s power within itself. So, could this be the moment they have coherent and scientific manner. The struggle fire the party. been praying for? has to be re-kindled. The people have to be re- Second scenario: Hamutenya’s supporters, President Pohamba, meanwhile, is emerg- mobilised, re-politicised and re-conscientised. who fondly refer to him as “HH” and “profes- ing from the shadows of Nujoma. He is cool, The next phase of struggle has to be packaged sor”, adoringly say, “watch this space, you calm and collected. He is very conciliatory in afresh in keeping with the march of time. g Focus on Namibia Namibia: A booming economy, but not for all Namibia is a country of contrasts, a prosperous and highly developed territory living cheek by jowl with a downside that weakens all the positives. Axaro Gurirab reports.

A formal analysis of the Namibian the mid-1990s, with tax holidays and other constructed. Equally impressive has been the economy creates the impression that it is well incentives, to attract foreign direct investment. commitment to rural electrification, tarring with our souls in the land of the brave. With a One of the largest of such investments is by the (bitumen standard) of streets in former black GDP per capita of US$1, 475, Namibia is ranked Malaysian textile giant Ramatex, on the out- townships, light industrial parks and informal as a middle income country. In the context of skirts of the capital Windhoek, employing close markets (locally known as omatala). the Southern African Development Community to 8,000 Namibians. The government is acutely aware of the (SADC), Namibia comes in at fourth place, after The primary sector is dominated by mining, fact that a prosperous nation has to invest in South Africa, Mauritius and Botswana. especially diamond and uranium mining. The its human resources, and thus education takes With an economic growth rate of close De Beers clan is the dominant name in diamond up approximately 25% of the annual budget. to 3% per annum, a low inflation rate and an mining, and has established a joint venture Hence, more than 90% of children of school- exchange rate of just over N$7 for US$1, all company with the government called NamDeb going age attend school, and the literacy rate these factors and more do indeed make Namibia (short for Namibia De Beers). This is a similar has shot beyond 80%. The two major institu- look like an economic success story in the model to Debswana in Botswana. tions of higher learning, namely the University African context. Thanks to rising uranium prices, produc- of Namibia (UNAM) and the Polytechnic of A breakdown of the GDP shows that the tion has had a new lease of life with two more Namibia (POLYTECH), have experienced a tre- biggest contribution comes from the tertiary uranium mines opening. Agriculture, especially mendous increase in their enrolment figures sector (services) with more than 50%, followed livestock farming, is fairly vibrant, followed by over the years. For the record, both institutions by the primary sector with about 25%, and the fisheries. The sale of weaner calves reached were created from scratch after independence. secondary sector (manufacturing) with 15%. The record levels last year with more than 200,000 In fact, the social sector makes up close to tertiary contribution is dominated by govern- calves sold at record prices of close to US$2 per 50% of the national budget. The primary health ment services and wholesale, retail and repairs. kilogram, mostly to South African feedlots. care programme is quite successful, and several Typical of developing countries, the manu- With an annual capital development bud- health centres continue to be set up all over the facturing sector is not well developed, and in get of over US$2bn, the government has spent country. Despite this, however, a polio outbreak order to beef up manufacturing and value- considerable amounts of dollars to develop earlier this year set the country back in this addition in general, the government launched previously neglected areas. For instance, many regard, but the response of the government the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) initiative in clinics, schools and low-cost houses have been with regard to the nationwide immunisation Economy

campaign has been phenomenally successful. square kilometer. Needless to say, it is a singular by whatever means will render them completely The outbreak is officially attributed to the poor challenge to reach every nook and cranny of the powerless. Namibia: A booming living and sanitation conditions in the informal country. The affirmative action loan scheme, which settlements (squatter camps). Most importantly, Namibia has a “Gini was designed to entice large communal farmers There are other major development coefficient” of 0.7, which is one of the highest in out of the overcrowded and overgrazed com- projects of note, such as the northern railway the world. The “Gini coefficient” is a measure of munal areas into the commercial farms, has economy, but not for all line, of which phase one, covering 250km, has economic inequality, with a value of “1” signify- had very minimal success in the larger scheme already been completed under the almost per- ing absolute inequality, whereas “0” signifies of things. sonal supervision of founding president Sam perfect equality. Thus, Namibia is one of the Land prices are astronomically high Nujoma. This line will open up the northern most unequal societies in the world. because whites are reluctant to sell, thus creat- parts of Namibia and will link up the country The inequality/skewness of wealth/income ing an artificial scarcity of land in contrast to an with its northern neighbour, Angola. has a racial basis. After more than a century of alarming demand for land. Thus, in the context The TransCaprivi and TransKalahari high- European colonialism in Namibia, characterised of the “willing buyer, willing seller” principle, ways are similarly critical for the SADC as a by the obnoxious apartheid system, it is as clear economists go to town about demand far whole because they link Namibia with Zambia as daylight that Namibians of European extrac- exceeding supply, thus pushing the land prices and Botswana respectively, thus creating special tion dominate the economy by far. A stroll down beyond control. corridors for the port of Walvis Bay. In fact, the Independence Avenue in Windhoek will reveal Needless to say, “emerging commercial Limpopo and Gauteng provinces of South Africa that most businesses are still owned by the farmers” (a codename for black commercial are also benefiting from the TransKalahari tjirumbus (mzungus/whites), except of course, farmers) are burdened with massive loans which highway as this makes Walvis Bay about 500km for the small food vendors (known as kapanas) they must repay at increasingly high interest closer. This vital port is closer to Europe and the on the sidewalks. rates, especially for the so-called “part-time USA compared to Durban and Cape Town. The mother of all inequalities is manifested farmers” (being those with full-time employ- Namibia’s blueprint for strategic develop- in land ownership. Out of the total commercial ment elsewhere, and who thus go to their farms ment is Vision 2030, which is a dream statement farmland of about 36 million hectares, more at the weekends, the “weekend farmers”). about making Namibia a developed country by than 90% is still owned by the tjirumbus. If one adds to this the high costs of produc- the year 2030. So, economically, the country is Despite all the good intentions and efforts of the tion, operation and maintenance associated doing quite well, with almost full marks. But is government with regard to land redistribution with farming, then it becomes evident that many it, really? Well, judge for yourself. and the affirmative action loan scheme of the new farmers cannot cope, thus forcing Agribank The challenges are many. Namibia is an arid Agricultural Bank of Namibia (Agribank), not to repossess many farms. Painfully, therefore, country with a low and erratic rainfall pattern, much of a dent has been made in the monolith the tjirimbus jubilate, and the land reform pro- ranging from only a few drops in the Namib of white monopoly of land. cess becomes a futile zero sum exercise. Desert in the west to more than 1,200mm in the The government has so far acquired only Unfortunately, Black Economic Empower- northeastern regions of Kavango and Caprivi. 1.2 million hectares, and recently the minister ment (BEE) has not taken root in Namibia. The consequence of this is that the country of lands unveiled a new scheme to fast track the There is no enabling legislation in this regard is prone to regular droughts, thus adversely land redistribution process for the next 15 years. and consequently major companies literally affecting its food security. If truth be told, the whites are holding tight onto get away it. The BEE deals that are there are Furthermore, the country is physically vast the land, as if to say that this is their last bastion few and far between, and border very much on with a small human population, resulting in a and frontier, come hell or high water. They seem tokenism. Such is the tale of the two territories very low population density of 2.2 persons per to argue, not in public though, that losing land in one. g Focus on Namibia Namibia: President Pohamba speaks Namibia’s president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, has been in office for a year and a half. He has a clear vision as to where he wants to take his country. Omar Ben Yedder went to interview him in Windhoek. Here are excerpts:

President Pohamba: I like the name New African because I was born, and grew up, in the “old Africa”. I’m also happy that I saw the birth of the “new Africa”, hence New African is such a good name. I like it.

Omar Ben Yedder: Thank you for the compli- ments, Sir. You’ve been in power for over a year now, what has life been like at the top? Pohamba: I must say that it has been a very interesting first year, a year of successes and challenges. I took office from my colleague, the founding president of the republic, Sam Nujoma, a man I had known for the past 16 years, with whom I had worked, a man with a lot of energy, whose boots were always going to be difficult to fill. But I am lucky in the sense that I have the ruling party, Swapo, as a shelter or protection. I am still the vice-president of Swapo, and what- ever I do must be in keeping with the Swapo manifesto, particularly that of 2004, and the other manifestos on which we have based our government since independence. Sam Nujoma remains the president of the Swapo party. Now whatever I do as the president of the republic and head of government, I look at the directives of the Swapo party which I fully participated to formulate. Our country faces many challenges. Yes, it is a rich country, but our people remain poor and unemployed. The reason is that the people who colonised our country, against whom we fought and chased away, deliberately refused, while in power, to train our people. They were only interested in exploiting our natural resources. So we have a challenge of education. We need to train our people in order for them to run their own affairs, to bring economic growth to the country. I work under the principle of collectiveness, so it is a challenge facing us as a team running the government.

Omar: What about the opposition? Are they President Pohamba: “Land issue is still a difficult problem” playing their role as a constitutional oppo- sition, and giving you a good run for your our situation, considering the cooperation that another across the political divide, but as money? I am receiving from the opposition members of Namibians. We discuss the socio-economic Pohamba: That name “opposition” means a lot. parliament, I feel that we should add the word challenges facing our country and the possible They work as opposition because they are there “constructive” to their name – constructive solutions. I also report to them what we, as a to oppose whatever you do, otherwise they lose opposition. I call them here, to State House, government, are doing and I seek their views. their raison d’être. It happens everywhere. In and we sit down, not as people opposing one But, again, their job is to oppose, and so Interview in parliament they do their job as the opposi- Namibia polish its own diamonds here and overcome. tion. They follow their party line. That does not make a larger margin on the added value? bother me, insofar as they cooperate with me as Pohamba: What a good question. Namibia has Omar: Namibia has a land issue. Zimbabwe head of state. That’s why I say maybe we should diamonds. We mine the diamonds. But until has a land issue. South Africa has a land refer to people like these as progressive or con- recently, we had no polishing factories here. issue. Southern Africa was really messed up structive opposition. Now we have three, but they are not enough. So by the colonialists. the mining companies still export the diamonds Pohamba: You are right. We do have land issues Omar: You spoke of the economic imbalances in their raw form to I don’t know where, but I in Namibia and in Southern Africa! In Namibia, in Namibia, which means the underlying know it’s not somewhere in Namibia. The value we’ve been trying to tackle it constitutionally, structure of the economy has not changed in addition you mentioned is at the very top of but it has not been easy. In 1991, one year after favour of indigenous Namibians. our policy list, we want it done here. Our wish independence, we held a land conference. In Pohamba: Well, I told you a few minutes ago is to have Namibian produce processed here. the preparation of that conference, we had two that the colonialists we chased away deliber- groups – a “happy group” and a “very worried ately denied the people of this country educa- group” which lived in great fear. The “happy tion and skills. To run a business you need to group” was made up of liberators who fought have skills. Not only business, to do anything and freed this country from the yoke of colonial- you need to have skills. So despite the efforts ism. We fought to regain our land, the land that by our government to involve our people in the our forefathers had fought and died for. The economic sector, we still have problems. We “very worried group” owned the land, and they need to train our people, but it takes time. That were scared that it was going to be taken away is not to say that we haven’t made any prog- from them. ress in the last 16 years, we have made some The land conference duly took place, under improvements, but the problem is big. the guidance of the policy of reconciliation that Before independence in 1990, you could our government had adopted at independence. hardly find black managing directors of either We looked at each other as brothers and sisters, parastatals or private businesses in this coun- irrespective of the colour of skin. We decided try. Today you see them all over. Go to the First that those who legally owned the land, the land National Bank or Standard Bank, for example, belonged to them, and they should remain the the managing directors are from the formerly owners of the land. However, the government disadvantaged people. The number is growing. would buy the land from them and distribute it For us as a government, it is very encouraging to our people. We made an appeal to the land to see this development – that those from the owners to please sell part of their land to the formerly disadvantaged communities are train- government so we could distribute it to the ing and equipping themselves with skills to run landless. businesses, institutions, government depart- “Did our children fight and die in vain?”, the landless As expected, the “very worried group” left ments and such like. I am very happy, even people ask the conference jumping with joy, but our people though the pace is slow. were not too happy. So the government was It is very important, first you provide jobs for directed by the conference to put some money Omar: Economically, Namibia has always the people and secondly you get better prices aside specifically to buy the land for redistribu- scored high marks. One recent report said abroad because of the value-addition. It is a win- tion to the landless. Now when the government poverty was decreasing. What exactly is win for all. went to the landowners, armed with “the willing Namibia doing to attract investors and new Interestingly, instead for the few polishing buyer, willing seller” policy agreed at the con- trading partners? factories we have to polish Namibian diamonds, ference, they were not forthcoming as willing Pohamba: I am glad to hear that we’ve been they go outside the country, buy the diamonds sellers. The government as a willing buyer was doing well economically, even more so given the and bring them here for polishing. I’m not ready and the money was made available by factors I have told you earlier. We are grateful to an economist, but how do you know that the parliament. But there were no willing sellers. the international community for their support. I diamonds you are bringing in are Namibian The policy of reconciliation wasn’t working. said earlier that this country was rich and one of diamonds or Russian? So we have this highly We were not even saying, and still are not the resources we have in abundance is tourism abnormal situation which I want normalised to saying, that they should relinquish all the land. potential. We do promote Namibia, especially ensure that both the investors in mining and We have a situation in this country where indi- to people who want to enjoy the sunshine. Thus, the country and its people will benefit from our viduals have multiple farms, and those farms instead of swimming in the cold waters of the resources. are huge – ranging from 5,000 hectares to Scandinavian Sea, they come here as tourists 10,000 hectares. We appealed to these people, and swim in the sun. We welcome such people, Omar: How do we break this cycle, this and did not get much response. and invite them to come and work with us in a convoluted cycle, which, as you say, does not On the other side were the landless people 50-50 partnership, be it in tourism, mining, agri- make economic sense? whose family members had fought and died in culture, services, etc. Pohamba: Well, as a government, we are the liberation struggle, and they began saying: engaged in a consultation process to see how “Our children have fought and died, our broth- Omar: Your economy is heavily dependent on this cycle could be broken, but I must tell you it ers have died ... in vain!” I was once a minister diamonds. Is Namibia getting a fair deal from is a cycle with iron bars which is not so simple of lands. I came from the Ministry of Lands to the diamond mining companies operating to break. We have the will to add value to our the State House, so I know what I’m talking here? At the moment, most of the diamonds resources, and following the principle of “where about. I was one of the people who persuaded are exported in their raw form to be polished there is a will, there is a way”, I know that one the landowners to sell land to the government elsewhere in Antwerp or London. Why can’t day, and this day is not too far away, we shall as agreed at the conference. They gave up a Focus on Namibia Interview

“Our relations with China are good”: President Pohamba welcomes a Chinese delegation to State House, Windhoek little, interestingly mostly in the desert areas of a fair compensation. So we decided to use this Northern Namibia near some former South Namibia. They made the land available mostly provision. As I am speaking to you, we still have African military bases. In the same way that in the arid, mountainous and rocky areas of the the “willing buyer, willing seller” policy side by the former president of Liberia, Charles country. side with the expropriation policy. Again, the Taylor, today faces war crimes charges, So we said: “We can’t send our people minister responsible cannot just wake up one shouldn’t the international community into the desert, it is not the appropriate thing morning and say “I expropriate all of this”. No, bring to trial those responsible for these to do. Please why don’t you give us the land in everything must be done legally. massacres in Namibia, or should we con- between those areas?” I don’t know whether As I talk to you, there are some farm tinue with the reconciliation policy which they meet to consult, I think they do. In the owners who have been served with notices of is the route generally taken by African past, they used to refer to our people, the expropriation – it started about three years nations, but not by former colonial powers? black people, as baboons, monkeys. Namibian ago. But again the process is taking a long time. Pohamba: Our policy of reconciliation was monkeys live in the rocky areas, looking for At last count, we had only expropriated one adopted with the full knowledge that our scorpions. So the issue became political. “They farm through a protracted negotiation with the people had died or were massacred during the are sending us to the mountains because they owners. war of liberation. Some of our people were believe we are monkeys and baboons. But we We want to use the provisions of the laws thrown alive into the sea, and some were killed are not going,” our people said. “Between this of this country to acquire land. When I was and buried in mass graves like those recently area and that area, this is where our ancestors lands minister, there was a time when some found near former South African military bases lived before the Germans and South Africans farm workers wanted to take over some lands, as you rightly pointed out. came. Why are the so-called landowners in but we told them, as a government, we couldn’t When we introduced the policy of recon- these areas not selling the land to the govern- allow unlawful actions towards anybody’s prop- ciliation we knew the Cassinga massacre had ment so that it can be handed over to us?” erty. And they stopped. happened in southern Angola where our people When nothing seemed to move, we went were massacred by Apartheid South Africa. back to the constitution, and we found in Omar: You talked about the policy of We were aware of all that, but we felt that we Chapter 16 that the government can expropri- reconciliation adopted at independence. had to turn over a new page, let bygones be ate property in the interest of the public with Mass graves were recently found in bygones. You gave the example of Charles

Focus on Namibia Interview

Taylor who is now facing trial in The Hague. It But the important thing is that he did not say Account. We would like the other countries to is not our intention to follow in the footsteps of Namibia would never borrow from the IMF and follow the American example. those who sent Taylor to The Hague. It is not in World Bank. We are members of these institu- We are grateful to other countries and our programme. tions, so we are entitled to go there. I don’t see groups such as India, Russia, China and the EU anything wrong with that. I am not saying we which have provided generous help to Namibia Omar: In a New African interview in 2003 have gone there now. I am saying if the need in the past and still continue to do so. But the with President Nujoma, he made the comes, I will not discount going there. per capita income statistics have put us in a dis- memorable disclosure: “In 13 years as an Yes, indeed we are grateful particularly to advantageous position. It is not realistic vis-à-vis independent country, we have not taken a the American government which has considered the situation on the ground. penny from the IMF or World Bank.” Com- our appeal for reclassification. Some countries ing from an African country, that was really are still saying Namibia is a middle income coun- Omar: You spoke of China and we know something to celebrate! Has it changed under try. We don’t argue with them because when that the founding president, Sam Nujoma, your government? You went to the US last they check the per capita, which is wrong in a recently paid an 11-day visit to China. What year where you met the administrators of way – here you have a very few people, a small are your relations with this emerging super- the Millennium Challenge Account with a group who are very, very well off – and when power? view to changing the economic classification the per capita income was calculated it covered Pohamba: China assisted us greatly during the of Namibia from a middle income country the whole population, and it was high. But if you struggle for independence, and has continued to that of a “developing” country. What are see the situation on the ground for yourself, you to do so after independence. Yes the founding your views on aid and development? agree that Namibia should not have been listed president went to China, his first visit out of Pohamba: The founding president of our repub- as a middle income country. office. He led a Swapo party delegation, of which lic said at that time that not even a cent had I want to believe that the Americans came he is the president. His visit followed my visit to been borrowed from the international financial to see the situation on the ground and that is China last year, and I have since received recip- institutions. As at 2003, we had not borrowed why they agreed to the reclassification and con- rocal delegations from China. Our relations are a single cent from the World Bank or the IMF. sidered Namibia for the Millennium Challenge good, which is how it should be. g

Namibia Literacy: 84% industry: 20% Capital: Windhoek services: 33% (1999 est.) President: His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba Inhabitants in Capital: 233 529 (2001 Census). Inflation rate (consumer prices): Independence: 21 March 1990 2.3% (2005 est.) Namibia is one hour ahead of GMT in the winter GDP (purchasing power parity): $14.23 billion Industries: meatpacking, fish processing, dairy months, April to September, and two hours (2005 est.) products; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, ahead of GMT from October to March. GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (2005 est.) tungsten, uranium, copper) GDP - per capita (PPP): $7,000 (2005 est.) Harbours: Walvis Bay (deep-sea), Luderitz Land Area: 825,418 sq km GDP - composition by sector: Main International Airport: Hosea Kutako Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, agriculture: 9.7% International Airport (48 Km from Windohoek) gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, industry: 31.5% Main telecom operator: Telecom Namibia hydropower, fish services: 58.8% (2005) Mobile operator: MTC. Population: 2,044,147 Labor force - by occupation: Investment Promotion Agency: Namibia Population growth rate: 0.59% (2006 est.) agriculture: 47% Investment Centre (NIC) - www.grnnet.gov.na