Namibia Country Profile (1991)
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This document has been made available in electronic format
by the International Co-operative Alliance ICA
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September, 1991
(Source Report of a Study by the ICA -The Current
Status and Development Potential of the Co-operative
Sector in Namibia- pp.1-7)
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Namibia: Country Profile
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Land Area : 824,000 sq.km.
Population : 1.66 million (1988)
Climate : Semi-arid and sub-tropical
Languages : English (official); Afrikaans;
German; Kwanyama; Ndonga;
Herero; Nama.
Date of Independence : 21st March, 1990
Form of Government : Republic
Population Growth Rate : 3% per annum
Literacy Rate : 40%
Unemployment Rate : 30%
Currency : South African Rand
1 US$ = 2.50 Rands (Jan.1991)
Inflation Rate : 13.6% (March, 1990)
GDP per capita 1989
at Current prices : R.3070
GDP Growth 1989 (Real) : 0.2%
GDP by Sector at Factor Cost (1989 Current Prices)
Million % of GDP
Rand
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Agriculture and Fishing 489.5 11.3
Mining and Quarrying 1,258.7 29.1
Manufacturing 210.3 4.8
Electricity and Water 77.2 1.8
Construction (Contractors) 111.3 2.6
Wholesale, Retail, Catering and
Accommodation 532.8 12.3
Transport and Communication 265.0 6.1
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate
and Business Services 311.2 7.2
Community, Social and
Personal Services 85.1 2.0
General Government 855.7 19.8
Other Producers 129.4 3.0
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Total 4,326.2 100.0
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Principal Exports (1989):
Million % of Total
Rand
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Agricultural Exports 293.7 11.0
Fish Exports 64.9 2.4
Mineral Exports 2,026.8 75.9
Manufacturers 134.5 5.0
All Others 151.7 5.7
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Total Exports 2,671.6 100.0
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Acronyms
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CCN Council of Churches in Namibia
COPAC Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Co-
operatives
CUM Credit Union Movement
HIVOS Humanistic Institute for Co-operation with
Developing Countries.
HRD Human Resource Development
ICA International Co-operative Alliance
ILO International Labour Office
IMLT Institute for Management and Leadership Training
FNDC First National Development Corporation
JWBDF JU/WA Bushman Development Foundation
KAF Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
MOA Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural
Development.
NCCA Namibian Community Co-operative Alliance
NDT National Development Trust
NGO Non-Governmental Organisation
NJCS National Job Creation Service
SCC Swedish Co-operative Centre
SWAPO South-West African Peoples' Organisation
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
I. Introduction
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Background
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Already prior to the independence of Namibia, discussions
between South-West African People's Organization (SWAPO),
Swedish Co-operative Centre (SCC) and International Co-
operative Alliance (ICA), concerning co-operative development
in Namibia, were held. Later during 1990 an Assistance
Programme to provide the framework for initiating successful
co-operative development was agreed upon between the ICA and
the Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and
Rural Development; the Programme is sponsored by the SCC. The
Programme consists of the following three components:
i. Exploratory Mission: the purpose of the Mission would be
to study the current co-operative situation and the co-
operative development potential in Namibia;
ii. Policy Dialogue: the objective of which would be
formulation of a co-operative development policy and
strategy for the promotion and growth of co-operatives in
Namibia;
iii. Consultation with Development Organizations: the purpose
of the consultation would be to inform the Development
Organizations of the current status of the co-operative
sector, its development potential, the priorities, the
co-operative development policy and strategy of the
government, and to seek collaboration, in a co-ordinated
way, of the development organizations in promoting co-
operative development. The Consultation would be held in
Namibia under the joint auspices of the ICA and the
Government of Namibia.
Exploratory Mission : Composition
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The Exploratory Mission comprising the following three persons
carried out its study from 14th January to 8th February, 1991.
1. Mr. J.M. Rana, Senior Development Adviser, International
Co-operative Alliance, Geneva: - Team Leader
2. Mr. B. Kadasia, Manager, Research, Planning and
Consultancy Project, ICA Regional Office for East,
Central and Southern Africa, Moshi : - Team member
3. Mr. Lars Sylvan, Programme Officer, Swedish Co-operative
Centre, Stockholm: - Team Member.
The Mission was constituted by the ICA in consultation with
the Government of Namibia.
Objectives
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The purpose of the Exploratory Mission was to assist the
Government of Namibia in formulating its Co-operative
Development Programme based on the authentic Concept of Co-
operatives, by reviewing the current status of co-operatives,
by identifying the potential of co-operative development, and
by recommending ways in which this potential can be realized.
The specific objectives were as follows:
A. to make a review of the current status of the co-
operative sector with special reference to rural areas;
B. to review the present status of women's integration into
the co-operative sector and make recommendations for
increasing women's participation in co-operative
development;
C. to identify areas for future co-operative development and
suggest their incorporation in the Development Plan of
the country; and
D. to identify priority needs of assistance to co-operatives
for securing sound co-operative development.
The terms of reference of the Mission are given in Annex 1.
Annex 2 gives the programme followed by the Mission.
Methodology
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The following methods were adopted by the Mission for its
work:
i. Initial briefing sessions were held with Mr. Bruce
Thordarson, Director of the ICA and Mr. B. Rothkegel,
Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Government of
Namibia.
ii. Data collection and study of relevant material.
iii. Field work was carried out for two and a half weeks,
beginning from 14th January. The field work comprised
discussions with the policy-making and executive
personnel of the Ministry of Agriculture and other
related ministries, and visits to selected co-operative
organisations, informal groups, NGOs and some supporting
institutions such as the Land Bank and the First National
Development Corporation. The Mission visited the rural
areas in Kavangoland, and Bushmanland in the North and
Namaland in the South.
iv. The Mission members had internal discussions among
themselves for formulating conclusions and
recommendations on 28th, 29th and 30th January, in the
morning.
v. Preliminary recommendations were presented on 30th
January in the afternoon by the Mission at a meeting
attended by the Deputy Minister, the Permanent Secretary
and other officials of the Ministry, representatives of
the co-operatives and the NGOs, and the ILO Regional
Adviser on Co-operatives. Valuable feedback was received
by the Mission at this meeting.
Limitations
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i. Due to non-availability of appropriate personnel, the
Ministry could not supply a national counterpart to work
with the Mission.
ii. As a result the Mission had to spend considerable time in
collecting preliminary information and data and also did
not have a knowledgeable Namibian to work along with it.
iii. There is a paucity of data and research studies in
Namibia due to the long colonial rule and the policy of
apartheid followed by the colonial rulers.
iv. Most co-operatives and informal groups are of very recent
origin and hence have only limited experience of co-
operative work. Most of these organizations were not able
to furnish annual reports or statement of account.
v. Two and a half weeks was rather a short time for field
visits. Only a few selected rural areas, which were by no
means representative, could be visited. Also the Mission
could not meet with all the NGOs, more women's
institutions, more individual farmers, and have a second
round of discussions with some key individuals.
Acknowledgements
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The Mission would like to express its special thanks to the
Minister, Deputy Minister and the Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry of Agriculture for sparing their time for discussion
and offering valuable guidelines. Thanks are also due to the
Registrar of Co-operative Societies and his colleagues for the
considerable help given by them in arranging visits and in
generally facilitating the Mission's work. The Registrar made
himself available for discussion whenever the Mission felt it
necessary. Thanks are also due to numerous individuals and
their organizations for sparing their time and shaving their
material with the Mission.
