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Tales of Namibia - From Robert Mellis Swakopmund is an old German style village wedged between the cold waters of the South Atlantic ocean and the harsh climate of the Namib desert. Walking the streets of Swakopmund is like being in Bavaria. It is a prime tourist destination for people visiting Namibia and a popular stopping point for tourists heading to Sossusvlei and the Skeleton Coast. Mondesa is the township located directly outside of Swakopmund. Population is approximately 25,000 residents, the vast majority of which live below the poverty line. Poverty in Mondesa ranges from moderate to extreme. The DRC, Democratic Resettlement Community, is the region where new residents to the township first settle. This area is characterized by wooden and paper shacks with no electricity or running water. Like most cities in Africa, there is a sharp contrast between the lifestyles of the wealthy landowners in the city and the poor residents of the township. The majority of residents in the city are white and all the residents of Mondesa and DRC are black. Photos of Mondesa & Swakopmund Namibia is a land of many contrasts. It is a large country, but with a relatively low population by African Standards. The population of 2M is comprised of 11 different tribes, each with their own language. The official language is English. Approximately 50% of the people are from the Ovambo tribe and live in the North of the country and live mainly by subsistence farming. Approximately 50% of the population lives below the poverty line. During times of drought, food shortages are a problem in Namibia and aid is required. The HIV infection rate is approximately 22% and remains a serious threat to the long term viability of the country. Namibia was originally colonized by Germany in the late 19th century, but South Africa gained control of the country in 1915. Namibia was ruled by South Africa under the Apartheid government until independence in 1990 following 25 years of a bitter war against the South African Defense Force. Namibia is a democratic state with a republic form of government. The country is considered very stable by Sub-Saharan Africa standards and has strong ties to South Africa, Germany and many other developed nations. Tales of Namibia by Robert Mellis Robert Mellis is a media consultant who travels all over the world helping news organizations develop their staff of journalists. He has traveled and written extensively about Namibia. These tales give an excellent representation of life in Namibia. We are lucky enough to be on Robert's e-mail list and have received these stories in that manner. We have not edited these stories in any way. |
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