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Item An evaluation of the social and economic impact of Non-Governmental 0rganisations in Namibia: A case study of Katutura youth enterprise centre and women’s action for development(University of Namibia, 2024) Shililifa, Wycliff; Riruako, HozeSince gaining her independence, Namibia has witnessed steady growth in economic performance, expansion of industries and impressive expansion of social services. However, there remain wide disparities between income and wealth leading to extensive hunger and poverty. There has been an explosion of NGO activities aimed at alleviating poverty and reducing the gap between the poor and the rich, more importantly, shifting from welfare to sustainable skills development-oriented programmes directed at marginalised communities. Despite these developments, very little is known about the overall impact of NGO activities and very few details of specific project interventions are accessible in the public domain. This study is a meta critical evaluation of the socio-economic impact of the Katutura Youth Enterprise Centre (KAYEC) and Women Action for Development (WAD) training programmes on targeted youth in Namibia. This research unfolded within the context of the realisation that NGOs play a significant role in enhancing development among the youth in Namibia. A mixed methodological approach consisting of questionnaires, interviews and document analysis was employed to determine the effects of KAYEC and WAD training programmes on beneficiaries’ socio-economic development. The intellectual premise of this research was buttressed by viewpoints solicited from a sample of 100 students, comprising 25 participants from each of the four regions selected for this study. Structured questionnaires were administered with the selected participants, based on course, gender and age. Interviews were used to understand the impact of the training programmes as well as the challenges faced by beneficiaries of the KAYEC and WAD training programmes. The research employed descriptive and regression analysis to analyse the data. The results of the study established that KAYEC and WAD vocational and skills training programmes in bricklaying and plastering, ICT, office administration, needlework and tailoring contributed significantly to the socio-economic development of the beneficiaries. Moreover, the study reveals there is a significant improvement in financial status and improved access to social amenities (public buildings and other ii infrastructural facilities which are shared and become convergence spots for the local communities) as a result of the beneficiaries’ gainful employment after completing the training programmes. However, the results show a moderate impact on mechanic and horticultural skillsItem An assessment of landlessness and its impact on social and economic development: A case study of the Omaheke in Namibia, 1990 - 2015(University of Namibia, 2022) Ndala, Eric LuineLandlessness has been both the cause and the manifestation of poverty, insecurity, indebtedness and powerlessness of the majority of rural households in most parts of Africa and Asia. This study was an assessment of the degree of landlessness and its impact on the social and economic development in Namibia with special focus on the Omaheke Region. The study examined the correlation between landlessness and socio-economic improvement of communities by employing a quantitative and qualitative (mixed) methods approach, using interviews, a questionnaire and documentary analysis. A purposive sampling method was used to sample a population size of 140 participants. However, due to other limiting factors beyond the control of the researcher and unavailability of some respondents, the end result for this study was 113 respondents. The sample consisted of resettled beneficiaries of land reform and other rural and urban households in the seven constituencies. This study adopted the historical and political-economic (HPE) framework because it draws particular attention to politics and economics, understood in terms of contestation and bargaining between interest groups with competing claims over rights and resources. Political economy analysis helps to understand what drives political behaviour, how this shapes particular policies and programmes like those of land reform and land redistribution, who are the main winners and losers, and what the implications are for development strategies and programmes. This study concludes that the degree of landlessness has an effect on the standard of living, which, ultimately, affects economic development of a region or country. For Namibia in general, and the Omaheke Region in particular, despite gross inequalities, land remains a major factor of production which supports rural and urban economy. However, access to land alone without access to other resources is not a panacea for meaningful socio-economic development. Those without land or, no access to it in the rural areas and lacking an alternative source of income are therefore doomed to poverty and become vulnerable to malnutrition and starvation. It was found that when agricultural land is equitably distributed by the land redistribution programmes, the gap between the landed and the landless becomes narrow. Furthermore, this study reveals that there are various causes of landlessness in different countries of the world but they are similar and related in some parts of Asia and Africa, namely: (a) the intervention of European rule or colonialism; (b) the progressive introduction of monetized transactions and the rise in power of the money-lender which introduced capitalism; and (c), the rapid growth of populations. One of the most important lines of policy to eradicate poverty and inequality is to focus directly on reducing the high concentration and control of assets, the unequal distribution of economic power and the unequal access to income-earning opportunities that characterize the Namibian society. To overcome landlessness, the government may consider introducing land ceilings as a policy option in the context of implementing a redistributive land reform programme. Land ceilings are in line with the principle of good governance, sharing, equity, inclusivity and eradicating landlessness, which may lead to peace and stability and, ultimately, socio-economic development of the country. In addition, this study supports and recommends the adoption of the three resettlement models to address the three main categories of landlessness, namely: The Commercial Resettlement Model (CRM); The Semi-Commercial Model (SCRM) and; The Subsistence Resettlement Model (SRM).Item Black economic empowerment implementation in the Namibian financial sector: An empirical evaluation(University of Namibia, 2019) Simataa, Evans MuleleEconomic empowerment in Namibia has a valid historical grounding. The country’s history before and after independence, as the consequences of the apartheid regime, has been marked by inequality and profound economic exclusion of the majority black people from participation in mainstream economic activities. To deal with the legacy of apartheid, direct intervention in the distribution of economic assets and opportunities was deemed desirable. The Namibian government introduced various policies aimed at redressing inequalities of the past subjected on the black majority by the former regime. One of these policies is Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). It was envisaged that for the economy to succeed, the majority of the citizens must play a meaningful role, beyond being workers, but must participate also as business owners, executives and senior managers, entrepreneurs and also as decision-makers in the economy. The financial sector in Namibia is crucial to the growth of the economy and the overall achievement of developmental goals of the country. The sector, in response to the call by government to transform, developed and adopted a voluntary charter to spearhead, guide and drive the implementation of BEE in the sector. This study evaluates the implementation outcomes of BEE in the financial sector of Namibia. A gap and disconnect was identified in the literature between the intentions and prescripts of the voluntary adopted Namibia Financial Sector Charter, and the financial sector’s response to and implementation outcomes of the BEE initiative. Furthermore, a gap was identified between the government’s objectives and intended outcomes of the BEE initiative on one hand and the financial sector’s response, progress made and outcomes in implementing BEE policy on the other. The study adopts an outcome evaluation design that utilises sampling, data collection and data analysis methods that are aligned to both the research objectives and theoretical foundations of the research paradigm. The research employs a mixed research methodology with predominantly qualitative approach to assemble and analyse the data in examining the implementation outcomes of BEE in 13 large-scale financial institutions. Primary data was collected from individuals officially designated to represent these institutions through a 42 item questionnaire and through semi-structured interviews of a highly selective sample of 11 prominent, knowledgeable individuals representing industry regulators, trade unions, industry bodies, academics as well as selected economic, social and political commentators. The interviews were based on an interview guide consisting of predominantly open ended questions. The data in this study was analysed by using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. The processing of qualitative data analysis, involved transcribing collected data into rich text format, then cut and pasted onto Microsoft Word (2010). The data was coded and labelled using the appropriate coding and labelling technique. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS (version 20) and Microsoft Excel (2010) software packages. A number of informative findings emerged, but chief among them is that in its current form, the voluntary financial charter adopted to drive the implementation of BEE in the sector, performed below expectations and is not as successful and effective as anticipated. Lack of a legislative and policy framework to guide and enforce implementation is one of the numerous highlighted contributing factors. The study provides a range of suggestions for research to fill a number of identified gaps in the existing body of knowledge on BEE. Finally, the study presents a number of recommendations to the regulators, financial institutions, executives and to the government that may be useful in making BEE implementation effective. It is the conclusion of the study that, despite the highlighted flaws and defects, BEE initiative is necessary and Namibia should not deviate from the principle of a more equitable society and economy.Item Enhancing internationalisation practices in higher education: A case of the University of Namibia(University of Namibia, 2020) Namweya, Nambata B.The world has become a global village, thus higher education has become increasingly international because students and academics have a choice to study or teach at preferred institutions. While interest in international education has increased over the years, various universities have developed policies and strategies for internationalisation, which act as a guide for their respective institutions. Despite the fact that the University of Namibia came into existence in 1992, compared to other universities that were established years ago, there have been remarkable achievements in a relatively short period of time to deepen internationalisation. While the above achievements underscore the development of internationalisation activities at the University of Namibia, the problem remains that the institution still lacks a coherent policy that adheres to effective internationalisation practices. It is against this background that University of Namibia was the case for this study, investigating whether academic and administrative staff experience challenges while embracing internationalisation activities and programmes. This study explored a central research objective namely, to propose a guideline for internationalisation at the University of Namibia. Data were collected through interviews with selected members of the executive management and deans of faculties. Secondly, a comparative analysis of six universities’ internationalisation policies against internationalisation guidelines was made, in order to propose guidelines for the development of an internationalisation policy at University of Namibia. This study used the qualitative approach, and the researcher followed a single-stage sampling procedure. Thus, the interviewees represented by a sample population of eighteen individuals from which sixteen were interviewed. The participants were identified as eight deans in the eight faculties, seven in executive management and three directors. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, revealing that the University of Namibia does not have a standardised policy to guide departments and faculties when practising internationalisation at the institution. The challenges, obstacles and constraints were evident due to a lack of an internationalisation policy that provides clear guidance to the institution. Five recommendations were made, namely: The University of Namibia should develop an internationalisation policy for the institution; the University of Namibia should introduce reward systems to encourage the participation of internationalisation at the institution; the institution should organise an awareness campaign on internationalisation activities and programmes to staff, students and stakeholders; and the University of Namibia should establish a fully-fledged office to coordinate and facilitate internationalisation at the institution. Finally, the study proposed guidelines for the development of an internationalisation policy at the University of Namibia.Item The consolidated diamond mines and the natives in colonial Namibia: A critical analysis of the role of illegal diamonds in the development of Owamboland (1908-1990)(University of Namibia, 2020) Amupanda, Job S.Whilst the ‘natural resource curse’ theory has been an enduring theory in the study of the relationship between natural resources endowment and economic development, the economics approach to this theory, which privileges the economic explanation focusing on the Dutch disease and revenue volatility, has been dominant. The political economy approach has proven to be more useful not only in political science but also in the study of the African political economy and developing countries such as Namibia where the political conditions played an influential role than the Dutch disease and revenue volatility. At the theoretical level, this study aligns and pursued the political economy approach to the ‘natural resource curse’ research and provides further explanations from a decolonial perspective. The decolonial explanations are useful for it is evident that the ‘natural resource curse’, as is the case with other Eurocentric theories, does not dwell on the agency and subjectivity of the natives, in this case those involved in the illegal diamond trade. Because of the political conditions in colonial Namibia, the political economy explanations such as rent-seeking, agency and moral cosmopolitanism are insufficient in explaining the relationship between the natives and CDM in colonial Namibia in general and the role of illegal diamonds in the development of Owamboland in particular. As such, decolonial insights such as alternative epistemology, indigenous resurgence and alternative conceptualization of development are used to provide understanding of the political economy of illegal diamonds in Owamboland. Using a mixed method, the study was exposed to a rich data set ranging from interviews, archival records, court records and secondary data. This allowed for cross pollination and verification of the data thus improving the validity and reliability of the data and findings. The study found, across all four data sets, comprehensive evidence confirming illegal diamond operations at CDM involving the Aawambo workers and the Portuguese masterminds. It is found that illegal diamonds made a contribution in the development of Owamboland in colonial Namibia. It is also found that prominent business personalities credited for the development of Owamboland, referred to in the study as the ‘Diamond Princes’, were involved in the underground diamond economy in Owamboland. Illegal diamonds led to increased purchasing power, widespread mercantilism and provided several economic opportunities for the natives in Owamboland including the transformation of Owamboland rural economy. The evidence further suggests that Namibia’s liberation movement and the progenitor of the present-day ruling party, SWAPO, was a direct and indirect beneficiary of the illegal diamond economy rents during the fight against apartheid colonialism. CDM, which maintained a symbiotic relationship with the colonial state and implemented its policies, stands accused of and associated with the death and disappearance of CDM workers who remain unaccounted for to date. In summary, the study responds to a clarion call for decolonial and Afrocentric perspectives on African development. Its end result is a compound that brings together several aspects of Namibian political economy to advance the case for of the role of illegal diamonds in the development of Owamboland. Given that the study took place in ‘unchartered territory’, its greatest contribution, beyond decolonial and Afrocentric pleas, is that of ‘ground-breaking’ research for there has been no record of research, at this level, that looked at the role of illegal diamonds in the development of Owamboland in colonial Namibia.Item Intergovernmental relations between central government and selected local authorities in Namibia with special reference to the decentralisation process(University of Namibia, 2004) Mutumba, Boniface S.Although decentralisation is a basic tenet of local democracy in local government operations, the central government and local authorities do not seem to adhere to basic principles that the concept seeks to promote, particularly in policy and legislation formulation on matters pertaining to local authority affairs. This negates the values of local self-government, democracy or participation, liberty and autonomy. which are powerful ideological elements in the establishment of local government institutions in Namibia. This study was undertaken to test this proposition. so as to incline policy and legislation formulation by the central government and local authorities into partnership, in line with provisions of Article 1 {2) and chapter 12 (3) of the constitution for the Republic of Namibia. In order to carry out this research, the study adopted an evaluative method that utilised questionnaire, literature review, and documentary search techniques. Focus was mainly on local authority consultation, participation, centre local relationship, division of decision-making powers between the central government and local authorities; councilior-community relationship and councillors' contact with local development committees. The study revealed that very little consultation takes place in issues of national policy and legislation formulation, particularly on matters that pertain to local authority affairs between the two levels of policy namely, central government and local authorities. Legislation and national policies pertaining to local authority affairs are initiated, conceived and formulated by the central government. fn most cases, local authorities merely implement centrally planned policies and legislation. Another interesting finding is that councillors usually determine what their local clients (community members) want without their involvement. This scenario negates the ve1y basis of local government, interdependency and centralises political decision-making power to the centre. Thus, the central government regards local authorities as mere extensions of the state through which the power of the state filters, and that. they are subordinate bodies upon which policies can be imposed. Similar£v, local authority councillors regard community members as ordinary people on whom any decision can be imposed. This whole policy and legislation formulation scenario is typical of a top-down approach that does not augur well with the dernocratic principles upon which the Republic of Namibia was established. This study advocates that, participation in national policy and legislation formulation between the central government and local authorities on matters pertaining to local authority affairs should be encouraged. Furthermore, community members should be vigorously pursued ro take part in policy making on matters pertaining to their lives at local level. The MRLGH and local authorities should form a partnership in policy initiation. formulation and implementation. Instead of political decision-making power to vest in the central government, such power should be shared with local authorities composed of elected represematives of the people at grass roots level.Item Local authorities and the implementation of sustainable development in Namibia(University of Namibia, 2005) Wienecke, Martin A.Sustainable development has in the last three decades become a widely debated notion. Nevertheless the objective of achieving a state of sustainability has so far not been attained. The study examines reasons for this condition by investigating activities on the global, national and local levels, and examining various philosophies and approaches, to determine what constitutes sustainable development and sustainability. In the first chapter, the research problem, the objectives of the study, the hypothesis and the methodology are described. Chapter 2 conceptualises the concept sustainable development by evaluating theoretical and philosophical perspectives, the meaning and understanding of the concept. A variety of philosophies and discussions are associated with the concept sustainability, such as autopoiesis, ethics, utilitarianism, eco-philosophies, and an empirical literature review. Chapter 3 investigates the relationship between sustainable development and human settlements. Empirical and normative issues, as well as international agendas are explored as they incorporate various aspects which are related to the achievement of sustainable development. The role of local authorities in the implementation of sustainable development details the contributions of good governance and the generic administrative functions. In Chapter 4 the hypothesis is tested. The latter is based on the premise that the concept sustainable development is not understood. The hypothesis is divided into four sub-hypotheses in order to examine the components necessary for the implementation of sustainable development, the generic administrative functions, good governance, and practical factors in the implementation such as local agendas 21 in Windhoek and Walvis Bay. In this way a more holistic picture of the objectives of sustainable development is obtained. Chapter 5 describes a framework for the implementation of sustainable development. This includes normative as well as empirical issues, the role of local authorities, preconditions for the implementation of a conceptual framework, for example, political will, ethics, carrying capacity and dematerialisation. In addition three scenarios are presented to show different outcomes of such a transformation process from non-sustainability to sustainability. The final chapter concludes with the findings of the study. They underline that local authorities in general and in Namibia in particular have not been able to implement sustainable development on the local level by means of a Local Agenda 21. This agenda lacks one of the main requirements of sustainability, namely a holistic approach. Instead, sectoral approaches and attempts to manage crises have become the hallmark of these initiatives. An ethic and the political will, to support genuine attempts to achieve sustainable development, is absent.Item The impact of decentralised planning on rural livelihood in the Caprivi region on Namibia(2008) Lwendo, Brian S.Item Regional integration in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)(2008) Niikondo, Andrew;Abstract provided by authorItem Die vooruitsigte vir politieke integrasie in Suider-Afrika teen die jaar 2000(1986) Leibbrandt, Herman R.Item Political parties and interest groups in South West Africa(1972) Ngavirue, ZedekiaA 15-page abstract is provided in the thesis but has not been included here