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Democracy and Governance in Namibia
Just 13 years after independence from apartheid South Africa, Namibia
has emerged as a stable, market-driven, parliamentary democracy. It consistently ranks high on
international indices of economic competitiveness, democratic freedom, and good governance. Namibia
is also one of the developing world’s leaders in public sector investment in education, health and other
social sectors. The country is amply blessed with natural resources such as extensive gemstone and
mineral deposits, rich offshore stocks of high value fish, and breathtaking scenery and an abundance of
wildlife fostering a growing reputation as an attractive tourist destination. Namibia's man-made
endowments such as its modern port, network of well-paved highways and its fiber optic communications
infrastructure (among the most sophisticated on the continent) are equally impressive, making the country
one of the prime gateways into Southern African markets.
In the 13 years since independence,
Namibia has made great progress in realizing its democratic ideals. Multiple free elections have been
held; citizens enjoy wide-ranging freedoms, including access to a free press; and relative to other
developing countries around the world, the government has performed well in terms of delivering
services, respecting human rights, promoting governmental integrity, and abiding by the decisions of the
independent judiciary. Nevertheless, the checks and balances that are required for solid democracies are
still weak, and the culture of democracy is still taking root. The only president Namibia has ever known
has announced his intention to step aside in the late 2004 national elections, and many others from the
"liberation generation" also are preparing to move aside. Namibia is about to undergo a watershed period
that will test but likely strengthen the country’s democracy.
(Excerpted from the 2005 Congressional Budget Justification for Namibia)
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