Namibia’s prehistory dates back more than 750,000 years, when the first settlers moved in to brave the hostile Namib and Kalahari heat. Although the earliest people were basic hunter and gatherers, the Boskop – ancestors of the San people – had developed a structured society more than 20,000 years before the birth of Christ, making it one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Sadly for the Boskop and the San who followed, their period of dominance was not to last with Bantu and Khoikhoi agriculturalists moving in and displacing them. During the 16th century, the Herero people arrived from the Zambezi Valley, followed in the 19th century by a new Bantu group, the Owambo, who settled along the Kunene and Okavango rivers. Although Namibia had been known to Europeans since 1486, when Portuguese Captain Diago Cão sailed along the coast as far as Cape Cross, It wasn’t until the 17th century when Dutch settlers from Cape Colony (now South Africa) began to take an interest. In 1844, the first German settlers appeared, followed by the British who promptly annexed Walvis Bay, thanks to its huge sardine shoals.

In 1988, a ceasefire was negotiated between SWAPO, Cuba and South Africa and independence followed two years later. 1989 Over 40,000 refugees return to Namibia and SWAPO wins UN-supervised elections In 1990 the Constitution was adopted and Namibian independence took place with Sam Nujoma sworn in as President 1992 First local and regional elections held The First local and regional elections were held in 1992 and in 1994 Walvis Bay and 12 onshore islands returned to Namibia from South Africa In 1994 SWAPO wins National Assembly elections with two-thirds majority while Sam Nujoma wins the first presidential elections In 1998 Namibia sends troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo to support Laurent Kabila against rebels and the Constitution was changed to allow Nujoma to run for third term In 1999, a State of emergency was declared in the Caprivi (Now Zambezi) regions following attacks by separatists and in the same year, SWAPO increased its majority in National Assembly elections and Nujoma was re-elected for a third term with 77% of the vote. In 2004 Nujoma did not seek a fourth term. Hifikepunye Pohamba is chosen as SWAPO presidential candidate, SWAPO maintained two-thirds majority in National Assembly and Pohamba is elected president with 76% of the vote And, 2009 SWAPO maintains three-quarter majority in National Assembly and Pohamba is reelected with over 75% of the vote