Namibia 
 

24 Apr 1884 - 9 Jul 1915                  1913  Proposed colonial flag                          9 Jul 1915 - 28 Jun 1919                      28 Jun 1919 - 31 May 1928              31 May 1928 - 21 Mar 1990                   Adopted 21 Mar 1990   Map of Namibia Hear National Anthem "Namibia, Land of the Brave" Text of National Anthem Adopted 21 Mar 1991 Constitution (12 Mar 1990) Capital: Windhoek (Grootfontein May- Jul  1915; Otjimbigwe 1884-1891) Currency: Namibian Dollar (NAD), South African Rand (ZAR) (1919-1990) National Holiday: 21 Mar (1990) Independence Day Population: 2,055,080 (2007) GDP: $15.04 billion (2006) Exports: $2.32 billion (2006) Imports: $2.45 billion (2006)  Ethnic groups:  Ovambo 34.4%, mixed black/white 14.5% Kavangos 9.1%, Herero 5.5%, white 6%, Damara 7%, Nama 4.4%, Caprivian 4%,  San [Bushmen] and Bergdama 7%, Kwambi 3.7%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%, other 1.5% (2000) Total Armed Forces: 9,000 (2003) Merchant marine: 1 ship (2006)  Religions: Protestant  (mostly Lutheran) 47.5%, Roman Catholic 17.7%, African Christian 10.8%, traditional beliefs 6%, other 18% (2000) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfDB, APM, AU, C, CTBT, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, KP, MIGA, NAM, NPT, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Namibia Index Chronology  9 Apr 1883                Agent of Adolf Lüderitz purchases Angra Pequeña                               (Lüderitz), taking possession on 12 May 1883. 24 Apr 1884                German South West Africa protectorate. 30 Apr 1885 - 1889         Under Deutsch Kolonialgesell-schaft für                               Südwest-Africa (German South West Africa                              Colonial Company) rule. 14 Sep 1892                German South West Africa crown colony.  9 Jul 1915                Occupation by South Africa, German forces                              surrender; fully occupied by 16 Aug 1915. 17 Dec 1920                South West Africa a League of Nations mandate                              (administered by South Africa). 11 Dec 1946                South Africa rejects a UN Trusteeship for South                               West Africa. 24 Aug 1954                South Africa announces mandate has lapsed and                              that "the territory and South Africa are one                              political entity." 27 Oct 1966                United Nations General Assembly terminates the                               mandate and puts South West Africa under direct                              UN responsibility; South Africa does not                               recognize this and continues to exercise de                               facto authority. 19 May 1967                United Nations Council for Namibia created,                              it functioned as a policy-making organ of the UN                              General Assembly and as the legal administering                              authority of a Trust Territory. 12 Jun 1968                South West Africa formally renamed Namibia by the                              United Nations (not recognized by South Africa).  2 Oct 1968 - Jul 1980     Homelands similar to those in South Africa                               established. 30 Jan 1970                UN declares South Africa in "illegal occupation"                              of Namibia. 21 Mar 1990                Independence from South Africa                               (Republic of Namibia).  1 Mar 1994                Walvis Bay ceded to Namibia by South Africa. Traditional States Former Black Homelands Caprivi Strip (1909-1990) Upingtonia/ Lijdensrust (1885-1887)   Walvis Bay (1878-1994) Historical Maps of Namibia Map of Namibia 1920-1994

UN Commissioners (not recognized by South Africa)
27 Oct 1966 - 13 Jun 1967  Anton Vratusa (Yugoslavia)         (b. 1915)
13 Jun 1967 -  1 Dec 1969  Konstantinos Stavropoulos (Greece) (b. 1905 - d. 1984)
                             (acting)
 1 Dec 1969 - 18 Dec 1973  Agha Abdul Hamid (Pakistan)        (b. 1912)
                             (acting)
18 Dec 1973 -  1 Jan 1977  Sean MacBride (Ireland)            (b. 1904 - d. 1988) 
 1 Jan 1977 -  1 Apr 1982  Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari       (b. 1937) 
                             (Finland)
 1 Apr 1982 -  1 Jul 1987  Brajesh Chandra Mishra (India)     (b. 1928)
 1 Jul 1987 - 21 Dec 1988  Bernt Carlsson (Sweden)            (b. 1938 - d. 1988)
UN Special Representative
 1 Apr 1989 - 21 Mar 1990  Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari       (s.a.) 
                             (Finland)

Magistrates
 9 Apr 1883 - 12 May 1883  Heinrich Vogelsang (acting)        (b. 1862 - d. 1914)
12 May 1883 -  7 Oct 1884  Adolf Lüderitz                     (b. 1834 - d. 1886)
Reichskommissare (imperial commissioners)
 7 Oct 1884 - May 1885     Gustav Nachtigal                   (b. 1834 - d. 1885)
May 1885 - Aug 1890        Heinrich Ernst Göring (acting)     (b. 1839 - d. 1913)
Aug 1890 - Mar 1891        Louis Nels (acting)                (b. 1855 - d. 1910)
Mar 1891 - Nov 1893        Curt von François                  (b. 1852 - d. 1931)
Landeshauptleute (administrators)
Nov 1893 - 15 Mar 1894     Curt von François                  (s.a.)
15 Mar 1894 - 18 Apr 1898  Theodor von Leutwein               (b. 1849 - d. 1921)
                             (acting to 27 Jun 1895)
Governors
18 Apr 1898 - 19 Aug 1905  Theodor von Leutwein               (s.a.)
19 Aug 1905 - Nov 1905     Adrian Dietrich Lothar von Trotha  (b. 1848 - d. 1920)
                             (acting)
Nov 1905 - 20 May 1907     Friedrich von Lindequist           (b. 1862 - d. 1945)
20 May 1907 - 20 Jun 1910  Bruno von Schuckmann               (b. 1857 - d. 1919)
28 Aug 1910 -  9 Jul 1915  Theodor Seitz                      (b. 1863 - d. 1949)
Military governors
 9 Jul 1915 - 11 Jul 1915  Louis Botha                        (b. 1862 - d. 1919) 
11 Jul 1915 - 30 Oct 1915  Percival Scott Beves               (b. 1868 - d. 1924)
Administrators
31 Oct 1915 -  1 Oct 1920  Sir Edmond Howard Lacam Gorges     (b. 1872 - d. 1924)
 1 Oct 1920 -  1 Apr 1926  Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr              (b. 1871 - d. 1942)
 1 Apr 1926 -  1 Apr 1933  Albertus Johannes Werth            (b. 1888 - d. 1948)
 1 Apr 1933 -  1 Apr 1943  David Gideon Conradie              (b. 1879 - d. 1966)
 1 Apr 1943 -  6 Dec 1951  Petrus Imker Hoogenhout            (b. 1884 - d. 1970)
 6 Dec 1951 -  1 Dec 1953  Albertus Johannes Roux van Rhijn   (b. 1890 - d. 1971)
 1 Dec 1953 -  1 Dec 1963  Daniel Thomas du Plessis Viljoen   (b. 1892 - d. 1972)
 1 Dec 1963 -  1 Nov 1968  Wentzel Christoffel du Plessis     (b. 1904)
 1 Nov 1968 -  1 Nov 1971  Johannes Gert Hendrik van der Wath (b. 1903)
 1 Nov 1971 -  1 Sep 1977  Barend Johannes van der Walt       (b. 1914)
Administrators-general
 1 Sep 1977 -  7 Aug 1979  Marthinus T. Steyn                 (b. 1920 - d. 1998)
 7 Aug 1979 -  4 Sep 1980  Gerrit Viljoen                     (b. 1926)
 4 Sep 1980 -  1 Feb 1983  Danie Hough                        (b. 1937)
 1 Feb 1983 -  1 Jul 1985  Willie van Niekerk                 (b. 1937)
 1 Jul 1985 - 21 Mar 1990  Louis Pienaar                      (b. 1926)
Presidents 
21 Mar 1990 - 21 Mar 2005  Samuel Daniel Shafiishuna Nujoma   (b. 1929)             SWAPO
21 Mar 2005                Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba          (b. 1935)             SWAPO

Chairman of the Council of Ministers
 1 Jul 1980 - 18 Jan 1983  Dirk Frederick Mudge               (b. 1928)             RP/DTA
Chief Executive Officer
19 Jan 1983 - 17 Jun 1985  Jan F. Greebe
Chairmen of the Transitional Government of National Unity
17 Jun 1985 - 16 Sep 1985  Dawid Bezuidenhout (1st time)      (b. 1935 - d. 1998)   LP
17 Sep 1985 - 16 Dec 1985  Hans Diergaardt                    (b. 1927 - d. 1998)   RFP
17 Dec 1985 - 16 Mar 1986  Moses Katjikuru Katjiuongua        (b. 1942)             SWANU
                             (1st time)
17 Mar 1986 - 16 Jun 1986  Fanuel Jariretundu Kozonguizi      (b. 1932 - d. 1995)   DTA 
17 Jun 1986 - 16 Sep 1986  Andrew Matjila (1st time)          (b. 1932)             DTA 
17 Sep 1986 - 16 Dec 1986  Dirk Frederick Mudge (1st time)    (s.a.)                DTA
17 Dec 1986 - 31 Jan 1987  Ebenezer van Zijl                  (b. 1931)             SWNP
 1 Feb 1987 - 30 Apr 1987  Andreas Shipanga (1st time)        (b. 1931)             SWAPO-D
 1 May 1987 - 31 Jul 1987  Dawid Bezuidenhout (2nd time)      (s.a.)                LP
 1 Aug 1987 - 17 Jan 1988  Johannes "Jan" de Wet                                    SWNP
18 Jan 1988 - 17 Apr 1988  Moses Katjikuru Katjiuongua        (s.a.)                SWANU
                             (2nd time)
18 Apr 1988 - 17 Jul 1988  Andrew Matjila (2nd time)          (s.a.)                DTA 
18 Jul 1988 - 17 Oct 1988  Dirk Frederick Mudge (2nd time)    (s.a.)                DTA
18 Oct 1988 - Dec 1988     Andreas Shipanga (2nd time)        (s.a.)                SWAPO-D
Dec 1988 - Jan 1989        Andrew Matjila (3rd time)          (s.a.)                DTA 
Jan 1989 - 28 Feb 1989     Harry Booysen                                            LP
28 Feb 1989 - 21 Mar 1990  Vacant
Prime ministers
21 Mar 1990 - 28 Aug 2002  Hage Gottfried Geingob             (b. 1941)             SWAPO
28 Aug 2002 - 21 Mar 2005  Theo-Ben Gurirab                   (b. 1939)             SWAPO
21 Mar 2005 -              Nahas Gideon Angula                (b. 1943)             SWAPO
 

Chairmen of the Executive Committee
- White -
1977 - 31 May 1980         Abraham Hermanus du Plessis        (b. 1914)             SWNP
 1 Jun 1980 - 30 Apr 1988  Jacobus Willem "Kosie" Pretorius   (b. 1935)             SWNP
 1 May 1988 - May 1989     Johannes "Jan" de Wet                                    SWNP
- Colored - 
14 Nov 1980 -  9 Mar 1984  Leonard Barnes                                           LP
12 Mar 1984 - 17 Jun 1985  Dawid Bezuidenhout                 (s.a.)                LP
18 Jun 1985 - 29 Feb 1988  William Phillips                                         LP
 1 Mar 1988 - May 1989     Reginald Diergaardt                                     LP:1989 UDF

             SWAPO flag

Territorial Disputes: Concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river.

Party abbreviations: DTA = Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (coalition, est. 1977); SWAPO = South West African People's Organization (socialist, Marxism abandoned 1989, Ovambo ethnic base);
- Former parties: LP = Labour Party; NP = National Party (white); RFP = Rehoboth Freedom Party (Baaster nationalist); RP = Republican Party (white, conservative); SWANP = South West Africa National Party (white); SWANU = South West Africa National Union; SWAPO-D = South West African People's Organization-Democrats; UDF = United Democratic Front of Namibia

 1 Jul 1890                Ceded to Germany by Britain (called German Barotseland or
                             German Zambeziland).
22 Jan 1909                Named the Caprivi Strip.
27 Jan 1909                Fully incorporated into German South West Africa.
21 Sep 1914                Occupied by British forces from Southern Rhodesia.
23 Sep 1914                Administered by Northern Rhodesia.
24 Nov 1914                Administered by British Resident Commissioner for Bechuanaland.
31 Dec 1919                Divided into East Caprivi (at Kasane) and West Caprivi (at Maun).
1922                       Under the administration of the British High Commissioners
                             for Southern Africa (see under Botswana) (retroactive to 
                             1 Jan 1921).
 1 Sep 1929                Re-incorporated into South West Africa. 
Aug 1939                   Administered by South Africa; under Department of Native Affairs.
26 Jul 1940                Caprivi Strip becomes a "native reserve" administered by
                             South Africa.
May 1972 - May 1989        East Caprivi (from 1 Apr 1976 Lozi) homeland in part of Caprivi.
21 Jun 1978                Re-incorporated into South West Africa. 
21 Mar 1990                Part of independent Namibia.
 5 Jun 1996                Free State of Caprivi Strip/Itenge government in exile formed
                             by CANU.
 2 Aug 1999                Caprivi Liberation Army under Mishake Muyongo launches attacks 
                             on a Namibian military base, police station and other 
                             installations in Katima Mulilo. 

District Governors
17 Feb 1909 - 24 Jan 1910  Kurt Streitwolf
24 Jan 1910 - 16 Jan 1911  Hans Richard Kaufmann
16 Jan 1911 - 21 Sep 1914  Victor Gunter Egbert Frankenberg
                             von Proschlitz
Military Administrators
21 Sep 1914 - Oct 1914     ....
Oct 1914 - 1915            H.V. Eason
1915 - 1917                W. Surmon
1917 - 1918                F. Garbett
1918 -  1 Jan 1921         H. Neale
Deputy magistrates 
 1 Jan 1921 - c.1924       H. Neale
1940 - 1951                Lyall French Trollope 

Free State of Caprivi Strip/Itenge Government in Exile

President-General
 5 Jun 1996 -              Edward Ndopu                             CANU

Party abbreviations: CLA = Caprivi Liberation Army (Caprivi Strip regionlist, militant secessionist); CANU = Caprivi African National Union (Itengese secessionist, 1963-1964, Jun 1996-)

                 1886 - Jun 1887
 

Map of Upingtonia/ Lijdenrust

Capital: Grootfontein

Population: N/A

20 Oct 1885                "Republic Upingtonia" settler polity founded.
1886                       Name changed to Lijdensrust (Lydenrust); accepts 
                             German protection.
Jun 1887                   Republic dissolved.

President
20 Oct 1885 - Jun 1887     George Diederik P. Prinsloo        (b. 1820 - d. 1888)

 8 Dec 1487                Discovered and claimed for Portugal by Bartholomeu Diaz,
                             named Bahia da Santa Maria da Conceicão (Conception Bay).
16th cent.                 Known as Bahia das Bahleas (Whales Bay).
26 Feb 1793                Claimed for Netherlands (Walvisch Baye) by F.R. Duminy.
1795                       Occupied for Britain by Capt. T. Alexander aboard the Star,
                             but the area is not annexed (Whale Bay).
18 Jul 1817                U.K. relinquishes claim to coastal areas north of 18th parallel.
21 Jun 1861                Ichobe Island annexed for Britain.
12 Aug 1861                Penguin Islands annexed for Britain (Hollamsbird, Mercury, Seal,
                             Penguin, Halifax, Possession, Albatross Rock, Pomona, 
                             Sinclair, Long, and Plumb Pudding islands).
 9 May 1864                Britain disallows annexation of all the islands.
 5 May 1866                The 12 shore islands reannexed (officially 27 Feb 1867).
1874                       Ichaboe and the Penguin Islands annexed to Cape Colony.
12 Mar 1878                Walvis Bay annexed by Britain (Walvis Bay protectorate, 
                             annexation confirmed 14 Dec 1878).
 7 Aug 1884                Incorporated into Cape Colony (see South Africa).
31 May 1910                Part of Cape within Union of South Africa.
23 May 1911                Final border alignment with German South West Africa.
 1 Oct 1922                Administration assigned to South West Africa Mandate.
16 Mar 1931                Municipal status (suspended 12 Dec 1940 - 15 Apr 1948).
 1 Sep 1977                Re-integrated into Cape province (within South Africa).
 4 Nov 1977                South African claim to Walvis Bay and Penguin islands declared
                             "null and void" and are named "integral parts of Namibia"
                             by the UN (formally 28 Jul 1978).
15 Jan 1993 - 28 Feb 1994  Under joint Namibian-South African administration.
 1 Mar 1994                Walvis Bay exclave ceded to Namibia by South Africa.

Captain
12 Mar 1878 - 1878         Richard C. Dyer
British Resident Magistrates
 1 Jun 1878 - Nov 1880     D. Erskine
Nov 1880 -  7 Aug 1884     Benjamin d'Urban Musgrave
Magistrates
1884 - 1885                Benjamin d'Urban Musgrave
c.1885                     Simpson
188. - 188.                Guthrie
1889 - 1901                John James Cleverly                (b. 1856 - d. 1906)
                             (acting to Jul 1890)
c.1903                     Charles George
c.1909                     J.M. Richards
19.. - 1920                ....
1920 - 18 Mar 1925         K.R. Thomas
Magistrate and Chairman of Village Management Board 
18 Mar 1925 - 16 Mar 1931  K.R. Thomas
Mayors 
16 Mar 1931 - 1932         S. Blyth
1932 - 1934                W.G. Neate
1934 - 1940                T.P. Hall 
1940                       E.O. Bull
12 Dec 1940 - 15 Apr 1948  Municipal status suspended
29 Apr 1948 - 12 Sep 1949  J. Christie
23 Sep 1949 - 12 Sep 1950  F. Davel
13 Sep 1950 -  6 Sep 1951  J.C. Harries (1st time)
 7 Sep 1951 -  8 Feb 1952  A.C. Stafford
 9 Feb 1952 - 16 Sep 1953  W.J. Hamilton
17 Sep 1953 - 31 Aug 1954  J.C. Harries (2nd time)
31 Aug 1954 - 21 Mar 1955  H. St. J. Reid
22 Mar 1955 - 31 May 1955  W.A. Bester
14 Sep 1955 - 27 Aug 1958  W.A. Willis
27 Aug 1958 -  4 Jul 1963  ....
 4 Jul 1963 - 11 Mar 1970  M.C. Botma
16 Mar 1970 - 14 Mar 1974  Heleon "Leon" Hendrikus Laubscher  (b. 1929)
                             (1st time)
14 Mar 1974 - 12 Mar 1975  N.N. Dreyer
14 Mar 1974 - 10 Mar 1977  Heleon "Leon" Hendrikus Laubscher  (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
11 Mar 1977 – 16 Mar 1978  N. Retief (1st time)
17 Mar 1978 – 28 Mar 1980  A. Prinsloo
28 Mar 1980 – 27 Mar 1980  H.E.M Deissler (f)(1st time)
28 Mar 1980 – 17 Mar 1983  N. Retief (2nd time)
18 Mar 1983 –  1 Nov 1988  C.L. de Jager
 2 Nov 1988 –  6 Dec 1989  H.E.M Deissler (f)(2nd time)
 7 Dec 1989 –  4 Oct 1991  N. Retief (3rd time)
25 Oct 1991 – 29 Oct 1992  R.N. Bramwell
30 Oct 1992 –  8 Nov 1993  J.N. Blaaw
 9 Nov 1993 – 22 Aug 1994  Bryce Edwards
Chief Executive Officers of Joint Administrative Authority (in Pretoria)
15 Jan 1993 - 28 Feb 1994  Nangolo Mbumba (Namibia)           (b. 1941)
                           + Carl von Hirschberg (South Africa)