Allison+Z.+-+ALD+-+FA10


 * Namibia **

**President:** Hifikepunye Pohamba

**Geography:** Namibia is located in Southern Africa, between Angola and South Africa, and borders the southern Atlantic Ocean. It is slightly larger than half of the state of Alaska. Namibia experiences erractic and sparse rainfall, with mostly desert-like conditions, often leading to prolonged periods of drought. Poaching of the wildlife, desertification, and limited fresh water resources are problems facing Namibians. However, Namibia is the first country in the world to have included environmental protection into its constitution. The entire Namib Desert coastal strip is conserved, in addition to another 14% of the land.

**Economy:** The economy of Namibia relies heavily on the exportation of their natural resources. These resources include diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium, cattle, processed fish, and karakul skins. They are the fourth-largest exporter of non-fuel materials in Africa. While 3% of the population relies on mining for income, the majority (around 40%) rely on farming. Products from their agriculture include peanuts, grapes, livestock, and fish. Other industries include meatpacking, fish processing, and dairy products.

**People:** About 2.1 million people reside in Namibia. Namibians are expected to live up to 55 years old, which is an old age compared to other African countries. Additionally, unlike many African countries, around 86% of the population can read and write. 7% of Namibians speak the official language of English, while the rest speak Afrikaans, German, or other indigenous languages. All peoples leave in peace as well.

**Government:** Namibia’s government is a republic. They have three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial, as well as a president and prime minister.

**Social Structure:** Namibia consists of many diverse ethnicities. These ethnicities include the Ovambo, Kavango, Herero/Himba, Damara, Colored, White (Afrikaner, German, English, Portuguese), Nama, Caprivian, San, and Twasna. The majority of Namibians are black, while the rest are white.

**Hifikepunye Pohamba** was a graduate of the Peoples' Friendship University in Moscow and the former president of SWAPO (South West Africa’s People’s Orginisation) as well as Namibia’s former Minister of Agriculture, Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Resources. As the second president of Namibia, his platform consists of fighting corruption, crime, the spread of AIDS, and redistribution of agricultural land. He helped bring together blacks who were looking to buy land and whites who wanted to sell. He is also considered very modest compared to Namibia’s first president, Sam Nujoma. Nujoma was known for remarks about homosexuals, whites, and political enemies.

**References:** Paul Kagame

**Mo Ibrahim Foundation benchmarks:**

**- Safety and Rule of Law:** The government of Namibia, while moving slowly, has been working to prevent corruption within their government, which was a major point in President Pohamba’s platform. Their Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was responsible for the arrest of several regional and local officials believed to be involved in corruption in 2006. Namibia’s government continues to investigate several different cases. Enforcement of laws against domestic violence is also increasing.

**- Participation and Human Rights:** Freedom of the press (Namibia’s media is some of the freest in the world), freedom of assembly, freedom to criticize the government, freedom of religion. In Namibia, human rights are mostly respected, although homosexuals are discriminated against. The previous president had many homosexuals exiled or detained, while current President Hifikepunye Pohamba is much more modest and accepting. While women do have constitutional guarantees, they are discriminated against in everyday society and experience widespread domestic violence. Additionally, orphans and widows have their land stripped from them. However, a proposed law is in the making to prevent women from losing their land, and domestic violence laws are becoming more strictly enforced. Namibia’s government also distributes antiretroviral drugs to Namibians infected with HIV/AIDS. Local laws prevent any discrimination in distribution of the drugs to everyone in society living with the disease, and prisoners are also guaranteed health care if infected.

**- Sustainable Economic Opportunity:** The Namibian governments relies on free-market economic principles in the hopes that it will promote commercial development and job creation. They hope that it will bring disadvantaged Namibians into the economic mainstream. The country is also a leading advocate in economic integration with neighboring countries. Tourism in Namibia is also a major generator of careers for the citizens. Additionally, Europe is increasingly becoming a huge market for Namibian exports, rather than just neighboring countries.

**- Human Development:** Human development in Namibia is very good. The life expectancy rate is very high, almost 90% of citizens are literate, and the standard of living is of good quality. About half of Namibia’s citizens live in poverty, which is a much better rate compared to other African countries.


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