· How Namibia attained its independence

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·         How Namibia attained its independence

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·         After the withdrawal of Cuban forces from Angola, the United Nations sent a 'Transition Assistance Group' to Namibia to supervise elections, which were held to elect members of the constituent assembly who could draw up a constitution for an independent Namibia.

·         SWAPO won the elections and Namibia became an independent though different ways;

·         First there was the growth of internal opposition within Namibia. SWAPO or South West Africa People’s Organization and SWANU or South West African National Union pressurized the South African regime to leave Namibia.

·         In 1971, the Ovambo people, the Herero and the Nama, and other African groups mounted a joint strike against the South African regime if it continued occupying Namibia.

·         With these strikes there were massacres and the Security Council of the UNO increased military threat against the South African regime if it continued occupying Namibia.

·         In the same year 1971 the International Court of Justice ruled out South African occupation of Namibia. The International Court of Justice also informed the Security Council that other states should stop assisting South Africa to remain Namibia.

·         SWAPO formed the armed wing and the fighting rebels became too expensive for South Africa to crush. In 1975, Angola became independent which gave ground for SWAPO guerrilla's to train and set up a base for their operations.

·         There was pressure from other African States like Ethiopia and Liberia the only black African states which been had members of the League of Nations.

·         Armed struggle within South West Africa itself was too much for Apartheid South Africa and therefore efforts were concentrated at home then in Namibia.

·         Elections for members of the constituent assembly were set by the UN TO draw up a Constitution for an independent Namibia. It later became independent in 1990 when SWAPO won elections with Sam Nujoma as the first President of the independent Republic of Namibia

·         Attachments

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·         Why the Namibian struggle of liberation increased after 1945

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·         The emergence of nationalist movements like SWANU in 1955, OPOIC 1957, SWAPO 1960 and its armed wing the PLAN or the Peoples Liberation Army of Namibia. They called for unity and action against white domination.

·         In 1960, the British Prime Minister, Harold ended his tour of African countries in Cape Town and called for freedom and independence/ self-rule of the people of Africa, which greatly also inspired the Namibians.

·         The UNO recognition of the Namibian cause, which inspired the nationalists.

·         The reduction of South West Africa to a fifth province of South Africa and apartheid with African reserves or Bantustans led to inspiration of nationalism.

·         South Africa’s defiance of the 1966 UN’s cancellation of her Mandate over South West Africa. This led to the Namibians to start resisting South African rule by use of force of arms.

·         The Tanga Congress of December 1969 in Tanzania led to formation of the women, Youth League’s and PLAN with the objective to overthrow South Africa with force of arms.

·         South Africa’s ruthless suppression of non-violent protests.

·         By 1970's there were suggestions that Namibia should get independence by the end of 1978 as a unitary state. This was followed by a boycott of elections; resistance and SWAPO insisted to participate in UN monitored elections.

·         The independence of Portuguese Africa in 1975, which inspired the nationalists to fight.

·         The OAU’s gesture of support for the freedom struggle of the Namibian people, training and arms were given to the PLAN, which boosted Namibian resistance to South African rule.

·         The introduction of intolerant apartheid laws which included dispossession, discriminatory legislation that formed the fires of Namibian nationalism.

·         The undivided affirmation of faith and loyalty to the independence cause by the Narnibians including Sam Nujoma, Jacob Kahangua, Mburumba Kerina, Toivo Herman Ja-Toivo and Jariretundu Kozonguizi.

·         The Cuban and Communist support to the nationalists increased their determination for freedom.

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·         Why Namibia remained under the Republic of South Africa for so long / why the struggle delayed until/ up to 1990

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·         Economic gains, as the area had favorable agricultural potential especially in the north where fruits, wheat and livestock were reared and grown.

·         The area provided rich fishing grounds. South African fishing companies were getting a lot of money.

·         South Africa remained in South West Africa or Namibia for so long because she wanted to protect her capital investments. There were many industries and companies owned by South Africa.

·         Namibia had minerals like diamonds, uranium, copper and cobalt. South African mining companies had invested a lot of money in such minerals.

·         Namibia was a market for South Africa goods especially at the time when the outside world had imposed sanctions against South African goods.

·         Many South African Afrikaaners had been settled in Namibia and apartheid applied there, therefore with drawing from Namibia meant that the white community would have to leave.

·         There were also political issues, as South Africa feared an independent Namibia. She could provide another base from where the oppressed South Africa blacks could organize against South Africa.

·         South Africa wanted to use Namibia in order to extend assistance to Jonas Savimbi of Union for Totallndependence of Angola (UNlTA) who was fighting against the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) government in Angola of first Augustihno Neto and later Jos Edwardo-du-Santos, accused of being a Communist led government.

·         The Cuban forces were fighting alongside the Angolan forces against UNITA supported by the South African forces. Therefore, South Africa believed that the Cuban forces could carry out direct attacks against the Republic of South Africa basing from independent Namibia.

·         South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), an organization that spear headed the liberation struggle and intentions had interests with the Communist countries like China, Cuba, and Russia. Therefore, the South African regime could not afford a Communist neighbor.

·         The division among the nationalist movements based on tribal and ideological lines, for example the South West Africa National Union SWANU was dominated by the Herero, Ovambo Peoples Organization! Congress (OPO/C) was for the Ovambo. These also infightings, intrigue, secretarianism and jealous among them. which hampered quick realization of the struggle.

·         The introduction of Apartheid policy in Namibia and its repressive laws, like Pass Laws, separate Amenities Act, Population Registration Act, Prohibition of Marriages Act, Immorality Act, the Industrial Conciliation Act. These were introduced from 1948, which prevented consolidation of the liberation struggle.

·         The military strength of the South African army in comparison with the nationalists. In 1972 it was a world Nuclear power besides its numbers of soldiers and military technology.

·         Repressive acts of sabotage by the South African government towards the Namibian nationalist activities. They overreacted at demonstrations, nationalist leaders, strikes and the major political parties.

·         South Africa had a strong military and effective spy network. Fellow Africans were also employed to spy nationalist activities.

·         By 1970, the number of white settlers in Namibia had increased to 100.000. They joined the South African forces to brutally suppress guerilla attacks.

·         The Cold war politics of Capitalist and Communist ideologies created antagonism between the Namibian liberation movements, which prevented unity among the nationalists to uproot South Africa out of Namibia.

·         SWAPO armed wing- the Peoples! Popular Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) launched guerilla attacks for years from Angola, Tanzania, Algeria, Zambia, and the USSR. These external bases were far away to effectively weaken South Africa.

·         For over 4 years, SWAPO rebels used a guerilla-warfare, which included rear ambushes, surprise attacks on strategic positions and generally isolated acts of sabotage. PLAN could not afford a conventional war due to military disadvantage.

·         The weakness of UNO, which was constantly manipulated by the western powers in its resolutions in order to enforce dialogue on Apartheid South Africa.

·         The formation of the ‘triamuvurate’ or the league of the three including Don Slaazar of Portugal, Ian Smith of the (UDl) in Southern Rhodesia and P. N. Bortha of South Africa. This alliance strengthened South African colonialism in Namibia. It granted was moral, financial and military aid to South Africa to silence the nationalists in Namibia.

·         The weaknesses of OAU formed in 1963 to eradicate and advocate for end of colonialism and its manifestations.

·         The delayed independence of Namibia’s neighboring stateside Angola, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. They also had civil wars and were engaged with independence struggle and could not look at Namibia.