Re-examining liberation in Namibia : political culture since independence

Abstract

From 1960, SWAPO of Namibia led the organised and later armed struggle for independence. In late 1989, the liberation movement was finally elected to power under United Nations supervision as the legitimate government. When the Republic of Namibia was proclaimed on 21 March 1990, the long and bitter struggle for sovereignty came to an end. This volume takes stock of emerging trends in the country's political culture since independence. The contributions, mainly by authors from Namibia and Southern Africa who supported the anti-colonial movements, critically explore the achievements and shortcomings that have been part of liberation in Namibia.

CONTENTS -- Limits to Liberation: An Introduction to Namibia's Postcolonial Political Culture/H. Melber -- Voices in the Liberation Struggle: Discourse and Ideology in the SWAPO Exile Media/W. Hueva -- Between Liberation Struggle and Constitutionalism: Namibia and Zimbabwe/S.H. Bukurura -- The Struggle for Indigenous People's Rights/C. Daniels -- Truth, Reconciliation, Amnesia: The "ex-Detainees'" Fight for Justice/J.S. Saul/C.Leys -- Liberation and Democracy: A Critical Reading of Sam Nujoma's 'Autobiography'/C. Saunders -- Public Memory, Reconciliation and the Aftermath of War: A Preliminary Framework with Special Reference to Namibia/R. Kössler -- State, Politics and Culture: The Case of Music/M. Manns -- Liberation and Tolerance/A. du Pisani