Namibia
The Namibian economy slowed down in 2011 with a GDP growth rate of 3.8%, down from 6.6% in 2010, reflecting modest performances in mining and agricultural activities. Prospects for the medium-term remain favourable with GDP growth projected to continue on its path of recovery to an average of 4.2 percent for the years 2012 and 2013, driven by construction, livestock and crop farming, manufacturing and mining.
The Government of Namibia presented a proposal to the Millennium Challenge Corporation in September 2006. Its principal objective was to reduce poverty and accelerate economic growth through targeted investments in the education, agriculture and tourism sectors. An SEA was applied to this programme, which identified risks and provided recommendations for risk mitigation. One of the most controversial aspects of the programme was the proposed establishment of a veterinary cordon fence along the Namibia–Angola border as a part of the agriculture component. Therefore the debate over the fence will be described in detail in this chapter.
The Namibian economy grew by 4.2% in 2010, following a 0.7% contraction in 2009. Growth was due primarily to a rapid recovery in diamond and uranium mining activities, but also to credit extension. The sustained improvement in global demand for mineral products is expected to maintain gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2011 with a slight rise to 4.8% in 2011, and then a minor drop to 4.6% in 2012.
Sous l’effet de l’effondrement de la demande extérieure provoqué par la crise mondiale, l’économie de la Namibie, lourdement dépendante des exportations minières, s’est contractée de 1.5 % en 2009 – un taux négatif que le pays n’avait connu qu’une fois depuis son accession à l’indépendance en 1990. La production et les prix du diamant ont lourdement chuté et le tourisme a été sérieusement touché, provoquant une hausse du chômage dans de nombreux secteurs.
Namibia’s economy, heavily dependent on mining exports, contracted 1.5% in 2009, only the second negative growth rate recorded since independence in 1990 as the global crisis undercut overseas demand. Diamond output and prices fell sharply and tourism was badly hit, forcing job losses in many areas.
The Constitution of Namibia prohibits gender-based discrimination, but men still dominate in the family domain. Inequalities in the country are aggravated by religious beliefs, cultural practices and persistent legal discrimination in both civil and customary (traditional) law.
LA FLAMBÉE DES PRIX DU PÉTROLE et l’impact de la crise financière sur l’économie mondiale ont conduit à abaisser les prévisions de croissance pour la Namibie à 3.4 pour cent. Ce taux devrait chuter à 2.7 pour cent, au-dessous des taux prévus pour 2009. En cas de reprise de l’économie mondiale, la Namibie pourrait rebondir avec une croissance de 3.1 pour cent en 2010. Ce pays d’Afrique australe est toujours confronté à des défis importants tels que la pauvreté, l’inégalité et le chômage élevé.
SURGING OIL PRICES AND THE IMPACT of the world financial crisis on the global economy reduced growth estimates for Namibia to 3.4 per cent, much lower than forecast in last year’s AEO. This is expected to dip to 2.7 per cent, below rates for 2009. If the world economy recovers, Namibia’s economic growth could rebound to 3.1 per cent in 2010. The southern African country continues to face major challenges such as poverty, inequality and high unemployment.
C’est en 1928 que le capitaine G. Peter Louw a découvert une minéralisation uranifère près des Montagnes de Rössing dans le désert du Namib. Pendant de nombreuses années, il s’est efforcé de promouvoir l’exploration de cette zone, mais ce n’est que vers la fin des années 50 que la société Anglo-American Corporation of South Africa y a mené des travaux de prospection par sondages et a effectué certaines reconnaissances souterraines. Étant donné les valeurs erratiques des mesures relatives à la teneur en uranium et les perspectives économiques médiocres pour l’uranium, la société Anglo-American Corporation a abandonné les recherches.
In 1928, Captain G. Peter Louw discovered uranium mineralisation in the vicinity of the Rossing Mountains in the Namib Desert. Over many years he tried to promote the prospect, but it was not until the late 1950s that Anglo-American Corporation of South Africa prospected the area by drilling and by some underground exploration. Due to erratic uranium values and poor economic prospects for uranium, the Anglo-American Corporation abandoned the search.
NAMIBIA HAS EXPERIENCED a decade of moderate growth, averaging 4.2 per cent per year, thanks mainly to strong performance in diamond production and sound macroeconomic policies.However, the country is also characterised by a skewed income distribution and persistent poverty.