...ssScholarships for Namibia
Namibia is at a crossroads in its history. If it can succeed with the resettlement of disadvantaged people from urban areas to farms, it will strengthen families, reduce poverty and slow the spread of HIV/AIDS. The Namibia Land Surveyor Scholarship Program helps to train professionals to assist in the resettlement effort. The scholarships invest in people and capacity building, and the return on this investment will benefit Namibia for generations to come.
Namibia has three distinct regions: the deserts along the coast on the west, a central plateau and expansive savannah grasslands in the north. The Namib and Kalahari deserts are among the most magnificent in the world, with towering sand dunes that shine golden in the sun, migrate with the wind and drop gracefully into the sea. The wide open spaces and arid barren terrain of the central plateau contrast dramatically with the flowing grasslands that sweep across the landscape in the north.
History
In 1486 the Portuguese established the city now known as Luderitz. It developed into a busy seaport where whalers and commercial ships sought refuge and replenished supplies on their voyages around the horn of Africa. The deserts along the coastline were an intimidating barrier that discouraged explorers from venturing inland until centuries later.
Germany lost its control over the area when World War I started and in 1920, with the approval of the League of Nations, the government of South Africa took control and extended its "whites-only" apartheid policies over Namibia.
Namibia is rich with natural resources, including uranium, tin, copper, tungsten, gold, silver, diamonds, off-shore natural gas, lead, salt and zinc. Mining is the most important industry but employs only a small percentage of the workforce.
The only rivers with a steady supply of water are on the southern and northern boundaries of the country. The land is parched by the sun and the population relies heavily on underground water supplies. Periods of rainfall are few and sporadic, frequently characterized by flash floods separated by extended periods of drought. Although some large tracts of land are suitable for the grazing of cattle, sheep and goats, the scarcity of fresh water combined with poor soil conditions are major impediments to the development of commercial agriculture. Some people are subsistence farmers, raising crops such as cotton, maize, carrots and other vegetables.
Constitution
Government
HIV/AIDS
The resettlement of families from urban areas to land in rural areas, the pride of ownership of land and a shift from migrant mining to subsistence farming will help to break the viscous HIV/AIDS cycle which plagues the nation. |
Namibia is blessed with stunning landscapes, peaceful people, rich cultural traditions, exotic wildlife, a progressive democratic government and an incredible wealth of natural resources. At the same time, it is burdened with the legacy of a colonial history and seventy years of apartheid rule, poverty and a staggering HIV/AIDS rate. There is no simple way to untangle the complex economic and social problems existing in Namibia today. It will take the combined but independent actions of many who care, and time.
Namibia is located on the west coast of Africa north of South Africa. It was known formerly as “South West Africa” and became a constitutional democracy in 1990. Namibia is by far the most sparsely populated country in Africa. The total land area is 318,000 square miles which is about twice the size of California. Nonetheless, the estimated population of the entire country is only 2,031,000, slightly more than Houston, Texas. Two-thirds of the population live in the north and less than one-tenth in the south.
Namibia is known by foreign visitors for its friendly people, arid climate, dramatic sand dunes, desert sunsets and wildlife. The capital city of Windhoek is located in the center of the country. Most of the population are descendants of ancient tribes, including the Ovambo, Kavangos, Herero and Damara. Over 85% of the people are Christian. Although eleven languages are spoken, English is the official language and the literacy rate is about 87%.. 
The wildlife in Namibia is abundant and incredibly diverse. EtoshaNational Park is famous for the exotic animals which gather around its salt pans and water holes. They include giraffe, elephants, lions, zebras, rhinoceros, antelope and buffalo. Namibia has the world's largest population of cheetahs and there are tens of thousands of seals and pink flamingos along the coast. 
We know from rock paintings that nomadic tribes roamed the plains of Namibia over 15,000 years ago. They had no fences, permanent places to live or concept of exclusive land ownership. 
Namibia became the German colony of "South West Africa" in 1890 pursuant to treaties entered into by Germany, Britain and Portugal. With the Germans came trade, missionaries and the Lutheran religion. The German settlers performed the first land surveying and topographical mapping. By the time World War I started they had a formal system requiring surveys and the registration of subdivisions and land transactions in these areas. The old maps from this era are still kept by the Directorate of Surveying and Mapping in Windhoek.
The Germans settled on large farms in the north where their herds of cattle grazed. The first urban settlements in Namibia also arose during the period of colonial occupation, initially in the southern and central areas. Access to these towns by black Namibians was very restricted and they were prohibited from owning any land. Similar segregated towns developed later in the north in response to the administrative and military requirements of the colonial regime. 
In 1960 the South West African Peoples Organization, also known as “SWAPO,” began to urge the newly formed United Nations to revoke the mandate which granted South Africa control over the region, and by 1966 a guerilla war of independence was being waged to overthrow the apartheid regime in both Namibia and South Africa. The United Nations revoked the mandate of South Africa in 1968 at which time the name "Namibia" was adopted. It refers to the Namib Desert and is translated loosely to mean bare place, vast arid plain or area where there is nothing. The United Nations imposed a regional peace plan known as "Resolution 435" in 1979 but the struggle for independence continued for another 10 years. Independence from South Africa was declared on March 21, 1990 and followed by free elections for new national representatives. Namibia emerged from its colonial/apartheid history as a new constitutional democracy with a free-market economy.
The economy of Namibia is based on mining, commercial fishing, agriculture and tourism. The original colonists were in search of natural resources to export to Europe. Although colonial rule is gone, there is still a “post-colonial economic model” characterized by no manufacturing and heavy reliance on the extraction of natural resources for export around the world. 
The country must import large amounts of cereal, fruit, vegetables and processed food just for its people to survive. Namibia has the most unequal distribution of income of any country on earth and poverty is pervasive. The redistribution of land from relatively few white landowners to hundreds of thousands of black farmers is an important weapon in the war against poverty. The private ownership of land will not only increase subsistence farming, but also provide individuals with an asset that can be pledged as collateral to obtain bank loans to buy seed, fertilizer and livestock.
The Constitution was adopted in 1990 and forms the legal backbone of the nation. This unique legal document reflects the compassion and humanity of the Namibian people and their determination to preserve the natural beauty of their country. It protects many of rights held sacred by our forefathers in the United States, such as freedom of speech and religion and the right to representation by counsel at a speedy and impartial trial. In addition to protecting those rights, it prohibits the death penalty, establishes special protection for women, children and recognizes the family as the "natural and fundamental group unit of society." International non-alignment is mandated as a national policy and a national ombudsman is authorized to independently investigate any misconduct of governmental officials or any "degradation or destruction of ecosystem and failure to protect the beauty and character of Namibia." This is the only constitution in the world that protects the environment.
With adoption of the Constitution, all land, water and natural resources became the property of the State to the extent not then otherwise lawfully owned. The Constitution assures each person the right to acquire, own , dispose and bequeath property, but reserves unto the government the right to acquire privately owned property if in the public interest and just compensation is paid. The Constitution recognizes the importance of resettlement of lands to the future of the country.
Namibia, one of Africa's newest democracies, is now recognized as one of its most successful democracies. There are three branches: executive, legislative and judicial. There is a bicameral legislature consisting of the National Council and the National Assembly. Members of the National Council are elected directly and have a regional constituency. With the National Assembly, votes are cast for a political party which then appoints the members. The president is elected by popular vote for a five year term. He appoints the prime minister and cabinet, which may be dissolved by a "no confidence" vote of the National Assembly. The judicial branch includes a Supreme Court whose judges are appointed by the president. 
HIV/AIDS has an overwhelming impact on Namibia. Since 1986 when the first case was reported, it has become the leading cause of death in the country. It is estimated that 21% of the population is already infected with the virus and it has caused the life expectancy rate to drop from 61 years in 1991 to 43 years now. The infant mortality rate is also rising steadily as a result of the disease. Because there are relatively few people in Namibia, the impact of AIDS on the population is greater than the impact on nations with the same rate of infection but larger populations. Current estimates are that AIDS will cause Namibia to lose one-third of its labor force by 2020. 
The pandemic is the result of a complex combination of cultural and socio-economic factors, including unemployment, labor migration, sexual attitudes and alcoholism. Many men have contracted HIV/AIDS while away from their families for extended periods of time working in mines. Their families often live in urban poverty with inadequate nutrition, hygiene and healthcare services. A fatalistic sense of hopelessness for the future discourages safe sex practices even when aware of the risks.