Namibia

The Republic of Namibia, the 34th largest country in the world is located in southern Africa, bordering Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east, and South Africa to the south. The South Atlantic Ocean borders the nation to the west. It is a member of United Nations, the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, and the Commonwealth of Nations. Windhoek is the capital of Namibia.

HISTORY:- Bushmen, Damara, Namaqua peoples inhabited Namibia before the Bantu expansion. The Bantu-speaking people migrated in the land in the 1600s followed by the Ovambo in the 1800s. First European encounter was established when the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias visited Namibia in the late 15th century. Namibia was colonized by the Germans in 1884 and the territory of Namibia came to be known as German South-West Africa while the British took control of the Walvis Bay.  Prior to the World War I, the German troops killed thousands of Herero rebels. During the World War II, Namibia was occupied by South Africa in 1915. In 1921, Namibia was governed as the League of Nations mandate territory until the World War II. In 1966, independence movement started led by the South-West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), People's Liberation Army of Namibia, and a guerrilla group. In 1988, South Africa planned to liberate Namibia. In 1990, South Africa finally freed the territory of Namibia with SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma as the President. Walvis Bay was annexed by Namibia in 1994.

GEOGRAPHY:- Namibia is located at 22 00 S, 17 00 E in Southern Africa. The country has possessed total 825,418 sq km area with no internal water sources. The coastline is 1,572 km long along with the South Atlantic Ocean. The lowest point is Atlantic Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is Konigstein (2,606 m). Namibia is formed of mostly high plateau in the center. Namib Desert lies along the coasts while the Kalahari Desert lies in the east.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Namibia is mostly desert, hot, and dry with a very little rainfall.

GOVERNMENT:- Namibia is a republic. The constitution was ratified on 9th February 1990 and imposed on 12th March in the same year. The legal system is based on the Roman-Dutch law and on the 1990’s constitution. The three major branches of the government and their head officials are as follows:

Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and cabinet. The president is elected by a popular vote on a 5-year term. The president appoints the cabinet ministers from among the members of the National Assembly.

Legislative branch comprises the bicameral legislature, consists of the National Council (26 seats0 and the National Assembly (72 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court. All the judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission.

South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), United Democratic Front of Namibia (UDF), Congress of Democrats (COD), Republican Party (RP), National Unity Democratic Organization (NUDO), Monitor Action Group (MAG) are the principal political parties of Namibia. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

President                                Hifikepunye Pohamba

Prime Minister                         Nahas Angula

Deputy Prime Minister             Libertina Amathila

National Assembly Speaker    Theo-Ben Gurirab

National Council Chairperson  Asser Kapere

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Namibia is divided into 13 regions, which are further subdivided into 102 constituencies.

Regions:

Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, and Otjozondjupa.

CULTURE:- Namibian music ranges from folk to  pop, rock, reggae, jazz and hip hop. Association football (soccer) is the most popular sport of Namibia while Rugby union and cricket are also widely practiced.

ECONOMY:- Mining and manufacturing, providing 8% of the total GDP and 50% foreign earning, are two main bases of the economy of Namibia. It is 4th largest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa, 5th largest producer of uranium in the world. Almost 50aa5 of the population depends on agriculture. It has one of the world’s highest rates of income inequality.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $10.72 billion; per capita $5,200.

Real growth rate: 4.4%.

Inflation: 6.7%.

Unemployment: 5.2%.

Arable land: 1%.

Agriculture: Millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish.

Labor force: 660,000; agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.).

Budget:  

Revenues: $2.765 billion

Expenditures: $2.515 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 21.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Debt – external: $941.1 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Industries: Meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper).

Natural resources: Diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, vanadium, natural gas, hydropower, fish; note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore.

Exports: $2.87 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins.

Imports: $2.82 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals. Major trading partners: South Africa, U.S. (2006).

Monetary unit: Namibian dollar

LANGUAGE:- English is the official language, spoken by 7% of the population. German is spoken by 32%, Afrikaans is spoken by 60% of the white population and majority of black. Oshivambo, Herero, Nama are spoken by 1% of the population.

CITIES:- Windhoek is the capital and the largest city of the nation while Swakopmund is considered as the summer capital. Other large cities are Grootfontein, Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Ondangwa, Oranjemund, Oshakati, Otjiwarongo, Swakopmund, Tsumeb, Walvis Bay.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of Namibia is 2,055,080 with an average growth rate of 0.5%.

Density per sq mi: 6

Literacy rate: 84% (2003 est.)

RACE:-

Black 87.5%

White 6%

Mixed 6.5%

RELIGION:-

Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least)

Indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 23.19 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 14.07 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 45.64 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.89 years

Total fertility rate: 2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 16,000 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 344

UNICEF:- UNICEF tries to eliminate HIV in Namibia by undertaking preventive strategies against mother-to-child transmission of HIV in 27 hospitals. UNICEF also broadens the education on HIV and its preventive measures. Teen pregnancy rates, infant mortality rates are reduced. 23,000 pregnant women and children received insecticide-treated bed nets. School enrolment has been increased. UNICEF also combats child labour in Namibia.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 2,382 km (2002).

Highways: total: 42,237 km; paved: 5,406 km; unpaved: 36,831 km (2002).

Ports and harbors: Luderitz, Walvis Bay.

Airports: 137 (2007).