Readers' Views
October 2000

Namibia's Anti-war movement

The military alliance between the governments of Namibia, Angola and Zimbabwe on the side of Laurent Kabila in the Congolese war has nothing to do with principles or the liberation of the oppressed African people. The wars in Angola and the eastern Congo are a scramble for control over the vast mineral riches of these countries and to hold down the demands of the oppressed African people.

Given the logic of the military alliance, the Namibian government has allowed the MPLA forces to launch attacks against UNITA from the northeast of Namibia. The repercussions are massive because now these communities are being brutalized by the UNITA rebels who cross over at night to retaliate. The war spreads and its effects are felt everywhere.

In response to the situation, several hundred students gathered in Windhoek at the beginning of August and marched to State House to hand in a petition demanding an end to the war in the northeast, Caprivi and Kavango regions. When the riot squad prevented them from marching they organized a bigger demonstration a week later. After hours in the sun they gathered at the local park and discussed an anti-war campaign in an open and spontaneously democratic assembly. We are working to bring together some of the forces from the region and internationally to a conference in December.

Ten years ago when we spoke about capitalism and the need to change the system, people would say we were unrealistic. But now the need for an alternative sounds much more realistic.

Jade

Unite Africa Coordinating Committee
Namibia