The Department of Political Sciences invites you to a conversation on Namibia @ 25. Understanding Namibia – the Trials of Independence between Henning Melber and Tjiurimo Hengari.

A century ago South African troops occupied the then German colony, South West Africa and subsequently turned it into its fifth province for most of the 20th century. Independence was proclaimed after a long military struggle and internationally negotiated decolonisation process 25 years ago. The structural and mental legacies of settler-colonial rule and a liberation movement as government invite a review one generation into independence.

This conversation critically reflects upon the limits to liberation with a reference point to the recently published book, Understanding Namibia. The Trials of Independence (Jacana Press).

Henning Melber is director emeritus of the Dag Hammarskjold Foundation and extraordinary professor in the Department of Political Sciences. He had joined SWAPO in 1974.

Tjiurimo Hengari is a senior research fellow in the Foreign Policy Programme of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and a well-known Namibian political commentator.

Date: 1 June 2015
Time: 12.00 to 13.30
Venue: UP Postgraduate Centre L1-64
 

Refreshments will be served after the event.