Squatting in Namibia

After Namibian independence in 1990, squatting increased as people migrated to the cities and land reform became a goal for those who had participated in the liberation struggle.

In pre-colonial times there was no notion of formal land ownership in South West Africa,[1] and thus the concept of squatting did not apply.

The Native Administrations Proclamation of 1922, set repressive measures for workers and also criminalised the squatting of privately owned land and by 1926, 7.5 million hectares had been allotted to 1,106 white farmers.

[3][4][2] Namibia was divided along ethnic lines: ten bantustans were established, the remaining territory, including much of the agriculturally viable land, was reserved for Whites.

[7] Government plans to upgrade settlements have been criticised by squatters who either have been moved to a temporary site then not resettled or have not received promised improvements.

Almost 100,000 of these people lived in Windhoek, 76,068 in Rundu, 52,870 in Otjiwarongo, 35,452 in Oshakati, over 24,000 in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, over 13,000 in Rehoboth, 11,400 in Tsumeb, 8,670 in Nkurenkuru and 8,090 in Gobabis.