Namibia is one of the nations with one of the
most inequitable income distributions in the world. On the outside, Namibia is
viewed as a relatively successful African nation known for its diamond and
tourism industries. However, many of these industries are owned by foreign
business interests and descendants of white colonizers (primarily from Germany),
resulting in a wealth gap that is also conspicuously divided along racial
lines. As a result, while the vast majority of the population of Namibia are
black, the majority of new wealth generated is by foreign and formerly colonial
interests.
As a democratic nation, there is considerable
dissent about the current wealth redistribution. Renewed efforts have been
proposed to redistribute land and business ownership to a set percentage of
black ownership. It has been phrased in the language of land transfers and
reparations that have businesses up in arms. A similar initiative had been
completed in South Africa.
In addition to business opposition, there have
been disputes about how exactly this wealth would be redistributed among the
black Namibian population, and whether such a move with effect investments from
abroad.
As a result of these considerations, the Namibian
government has decided to table the discussion by the end of the year.
~Scarlett
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