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Namibia Begins to Pull in the Foreign Investors

Tony Figueira writes from Windhoek
***Almost unnoticed by the outside world, Namibia is already well into its second year of independence and multi-party democracy. The signs are good. National reconciliation has worked and even right-wing Afrikaner politicians admit they are pleased. But, whites' considerable fortunes remain intact in a land where blacks pose no threat to the economic heirarchy.***
THE world has been too busy with the aftermath of the Gulf War and the disintegration of the Soviet Union to notice the success of multi-party democracy in Namibia, a nation torn by bloody conflict until coming of age on March 21, 1990.
Today Namibia, with neighbouring Botswana, provides the example for multi-party democracy in Africa.
"It's working." says rightwing Afrikaner leader and parliamentarian Jannie de Wet. His comments explode old while fears of black majority rule, fears propagated during South Africa's 75-year occupation.
Admits de Wet : "We have totally changed our attitude. Some people were very worried when SWAPO (South West Africa People's OrganlsaUon) won the ekxllons. but wc got used to the situation and our experience is that democracy is being maintained."
According to de Wet, the most positive contribution is the government commitment to the multi-party system established in the constitution, hailed as one of the best in the world.
After the euphoria of independence, the SWAJO government led by Sam Nujoma had to face the realities of nation-building. Said Prime Minister
Hage Gcingob : It's like building a house, you have to lay solid foundations. Moulding one nation out of eleven ethnic nations Is a big task, but 1 think we are succeeding."
"Ons kry swaar, (we struggle)." says unemployed Paulus Shlkongo as he goes from door to door looking for work. Most businesses display handwritten "no work." signs next to warnings of security protection. Unemployment is rife and the crime rate has soared in the capital.
Opposition leaders criticise Nujoma for the budget deficit, an overcrowded civil service and for launching a stale-owned newspaper into an already crowded market.
"Still, it's different now," said one man. "We arc free and wc can vote." A poorly spelled slogan on the wall at Oshakatl market echoes his feelings : VIVA NAM1MB1A."
There have been grqal suc-
cesses too. One example : creation of a cohesive national Defence Force from the previously warring factions of South African-led counter-insurgency units and members of SWAPO's military wing, Ilan.
Since the departure of the United Nations watchdog UNTAG, the group monitoring the transition to independence, Nujomas government has fostered the climate of peace by giving trade incentives based on the principles of a market cconomy._
Investors were also attracted through an investment code guaranteeing free repatriation of profits and international arbitration in the event of legal disputes.
Some major investments have already materialised. French motor vehicle producer Citroen plans a factory near Sobabis, close to the Botswana border, where work on the Trans-Kalahari highway linking Namibia lo neighbour
Ing countries has begun.
Another gateway to central Africa is being built along Namibia s north eastern Caprivi Strip where Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana meet. Reconstruction in Angola is expected to give Namibia a boost.
Other milestones include the setting-up of a central bank, the Bank of Namibia, which lakes over from Ihc South African Reserve Bank. A new currency, the Namibian dollar, will lx- Introduced by the central bank over a two-year period. During the transition period the Soulh African Rand will remain legal tender.
Immediately after independence Namibia proclaimed sovereignty over a 200-milc economic zone along its coast and asked foreign trawlers lo stop fishing in its territorial waters.
In April the government earned more than USS35 million in fines imposed by the
Windhoek High Court on skippers of five Spanish ships fishing illegally. Ships, equipment, instruments and fish cargoes were forfeited.
In July, a national conference on land reform and land issues co-ordinated by Gcingob reached key decisions on socio-economic equality and redistribution of wealth.
In colonial days farmland was expropriated by I he German and Soulh African regimes. Land was allocated exclusively to white settlers and Namibian farmers were confined to reserves or homelands.
Among 23 resolutions adopted by consensus at the conference were recognition and protection of farm workers rights and prohibition of land ownership by foreigners.
Although Namibia is proud of its independence, the issue of the Soulh African-controlled enclave of Walvis Bay remains
unresolved. Foreign Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab, says : "Our objective is to recover Walvis Bay, to integrate It into the rest of the country." Talks are going on about possible Joint administration.
In Namibia, any vestiges of racism arc criminal offences, against the constitution. When Ouljo owner Burchart Frlcdric hsmalcr refused deputy minister of Wildlife and Conservation Ben Ulcnga access to his hotel, the cabinet withdrew Ils licence.
The move wa» widely criticised by the media and the legal prpfcsslon as an Interference in ihc Judicial process, but many Namibians approved. A flood of letters to newspapers supported the Prime Minister's stern warnings that "racism will be stamped out."
Nujoma's ^vernment is often criticised for sheltering while scttlerism through Its policy of national reconciliation. Namibian independence has brought peace and stability. but the whites' considerable fortunes remain Intact In a country where blacks still pose no real threat to the existing economic and social hierarchy.
— GEMINI NEWS
TONY FIGUEIRA ts an Angolan-born freelance Journalist. now living in Windhoek.