Namibia - CountryWatch

Political Overview Political Conditions
posed third term of office from opposition parties who considered the proposition constitutionally
untenable. Resistance to Nujoma's proposed term also came from within the ranks of SWAPO.
In August 1998, Ben Ulenga (former cabinet minister and high commissioner to the United Kingdom)
resigned in protest of the move, stating that it would create a constitutional crisis and damage the legitimacy
of SWAPO. Even the Namibian National Society for Human Rights, or NNSHR, stated that a
third term for Nujoma could contribute to an infraction of civil liberties. Pointing to the previous eight
years, the NNSHR voiced particular concern with growing government intolerance for freedom of
expression. Within the prior year alone , it had documented 23 incidents when freedom of speech had
been curtailed.
Still, the key issue on the government's domestic agenda during 1998 was the economy. The administration
had to deal with demonstrations by teachers on the matter of fair wages. Problems with growing
unemployment were reflected in the public protests of unemployed former SWAPO soldiers.
Despite opposition from members of parliament and students, a bill to amend the constitution and
allow Nujoma a third term passed by 50 votes to 15 in November 1998. SWAPO also dominated the
local elections that month, winning control in 10 of the 13 regional councils, including the Caprivi
region, which had previously been the domain of the Democratic Turnalle Alliance. The leading opposition
party called for a boycott of these results on the grounds that members of the ruling party allegedly
harassed DTA supporters.
Caprivi was also another notable concern for the government. Indeed, the secessionist movement in
the Caprivi region had been a persistent domestic concern for the Nujoma government. In October
1998, Caprivi residents began pouring into Botswana as tensions escalated between secessionists and
defense forces. Several leaders of the movement, including former DTA head Mishake Muyongo and
Caprivi Gov. John Mabuku left Namibia. Muyongo had been removed as president of the DTA in
August 1998 after the revelation that he was supporting secessionist activities.
President Nujoma visited Botswana in March 1999 and promised the refugees that they would not face
any charges if they returned to Namibia. However, in a move that aggravated already tense relations
with Namibia, Botswana offered asylum to the refugees in April.
By May 1999, more than 2200 refugees had taken up the offer. Secessionist leaders Mishake Muyongo
and Chief Boniface Mamili were also offered residence by the Danish government. Yet more than
2500 refugees returned to Namibia by the end of May under the repatriation offer. Nujoma finally
repealed pre-independence laws that excluded the Caprivi region from government legislation. Subsequent
discussion of the move revived rumors that SWAPO had previously arranged with South Africa
to accord semi-independent status to the region after national independence. The extended delay in
repealing these laws had been criticized by both SWAPO and DTA members.
In the wake of an August attack by the Caprivi Liberation Army, or CLA, President Nujoma invoked
Article 26 of the constitution to declare a state of emergency, which suspended certain fundamental
constitutional freedoms for more than three weeks. Many constitutional rights were suspended, including
no detention without trial, search and seizure without a warrant, or confiscation of property. The
decree restricted freedom of assembly , freedom of movement, and other rights. These measures were
largely confined to the Caprivi region and the government announced the termination of the state of
emergency at midnight on Aug. 25 1999.
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