by Augetto Cader Graig
Organiser of Namibia Media Professionals Union, Senior Journalist, Namibia
Namibia’s perspective of China is informed by a varied history, strongly opposing points of view and varied experiences, of late and more and more since Namibia’s independence in 1990, illustratively recounted in local media.
Before 1989 and the transitional period leading to the acceptance of Namibia’s constitution, China was a supporter of the liberation movement and of the currently ruling Swapo Party in particular, helping to train, arm and support the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) during the armed struggle against apartheid South Africa. Within the country skewed media controlled by the occupying government portrayed China as a scourge of the East, authoritarian and despotic, enforcing singular obedience and conformity, along the lines of propoganda favoured by the West at the time, and the United States of America in particular.
Since Independence China has maintained its support for Namibia’s first government through successive peaceful leadership transitions from founding president Sam Nujoma, to his successor Hifikepunye Pohamba, and with recently deceased third president Hage Geingob elevating the official country to country relationship. Chinese businesses multiply in Namibia and more Chinese citizens visit and come to stay, with a growing local population gradually integrating into Namibian society.
Incidents of incongruence, mistreatment and a lack of respect for the dignity of Namibians who continue to emerge from a long and painful history of subjugation and oppression have been glaringly portrayed. Suspicions of corruption and unscrupulous exploitation of natural resources and vulnerable rich biodiversity committed by Chinese people in Namibia persist.
Overbearingly, the immense size and power of China, the grandeur of Chinese history and achievement, the scope of Chinese influence and ambition, when compared to Namibia’s thirty four years in existence, Namibia’s three million population, Namibia’s widespread poverty and evident inability to take proper care of itself, cast a hue to all things related to the relationship between the two.
China’s interest in Namibia is demonstrated through increased trade and very significant investments in Namibia, such as high technology infrastructure like the Chinese space tracking station in Swakopmund, and huge projects like the Husab uranium mine.
In 2018 Geingob met with Chinese head of state Xi Jinping and a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership was agreed upon. The two met again last year in August when, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, Xi Jinping said Namibia and China share similar historical experiences and struggles, and that China stands for equality and mutual respect among all countries, regardless of their size. Geingob said that Namibia firmly supports China, welcomes Chinese enterprises to Namibia for investment and cooperation, and stands ready to work with China for greater development of Namibia-China relations, according to a report from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America published on 24 August 2023.
President Hage Geingob died on 4 February 2024 and his deputy has assumed Namibia’s leadership as president. President Nangolo Mbumba was equally welcoming of a delegation of medical professionals from China who made a courtsey visit at State House on May 22 when he said; “Let us see what China and Namibia can do in the field of medicine.” Just this month, on 3 July 2024 a bronze statue of Chairman Mao Zedong was unveiled in Namibia’s capital city; Windhoek; attended by Basic Education Minister Anna Nghipondoka, who delivered a key-note speech on Mbumba’s behalf, with Ambassadors Zhao Weiping and Namibian Ambassador to China Dr. Elia Kaiyamo, Labour Minister Utoni Nujoma, and Khomas Governor Laura McCleod-Katjirua, all in attendence.
*The views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the individual authors and do not reflect the position of the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Journalist Network.