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Namibia
General Information
Area: 824,292 sq km (318,261 sq miles).
Population: 1,643,000 (1996).
Population Density: 2.0 per sq km.
Capital: Windhoek. Population: 161,000 (1992).
GEOGRAPHY: Namibia is in southwest Africa. It is a large and mainly arid country sharing borders with Angola to the north, Botswana to the east, South Africa to the south and, in the Caprivi Strip, a narrow panhandle of Namibian territory jutting from the northeast corner of the country, with Zambia and Zimbabwe. To the west is 1280km (795 miles) of some of the most desolate and lonely coastline in the world. The port of Walvis Bay, situated roughly halfway down Namibia’s coast, was returned by South Africa to Namibian jurisdiction in February 1994. Along its entire length, the vast shifting sand dunes of the Namib Desert spread inland for 80-130km (50-80 miles). In the interior, the escarpment of a north–south plateau slopes away to the east and north into the vast interior sand basin of the Kalahari. In the far northwest, the 66,000 sq km (25,500 sq miles) of the Kaokoland mountains run along the coast, while further inland lies the Etosha Pan (a dried-out saline lake), surrounded by grasslands and bush which support a large and varied wildlife. The Etosha National Park & Game Reserve is one of the finest in Africa, in that it remains, to a large extent, free of human influence.
Government: Republic. Gained independence from South Africa in 1990. Head of State: President Samuel Nujoma since 1990. Head of Government: Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab since 2002.
Language: English is the official language. Afrikaans is spoken by most people. German, Herero, Kavango, Nama and Owambo are also spoken.
Religion: Christian majority.
Time: GMT + 2 (GMT + 1 from April to August).
Electricity: 220/240 volts AC. Outlets are of the three-pin type.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 264. Outgoing international code: 00.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network in use. The main network provider is MTC (website: www.mtc.com.na).
Fax
Most hotels have facilities.
Internet
ISPs include IML (website: www.iml.com.na) and NCS. There are Internet cafes in Walvis Bay and Windhoek.
Post
Good postal service. Airmail to Europe takes from approximately four days to two weeks.
Press
Newspapers are printed Monday to Friday. English-language dailies include The Windhoek Advertiser and The Namibian; weeklies include The Windhoek Observer. New Era is printed twice weekly.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Passport/Visa
| | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? | | British | Yes | No | Yes | | Australian | Yes | No | Yes | | Canadian | Yes | No | Yes | | USA | Yes | No | Yes | | OtherEU | Yes | 1 | Yes | | Japanese | Yes | No | Yes |
PASSPORTS: Passport valid for a minimum of six months after the date of departure from Namibia required by all.
VISAS: Required by all except the following for stays of up to three months:
(a) 1. nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Greece who do require a visa);
(b) nationals of countries shown in the chart above;
(c) nationals of Angola, Botswana, Brazil, China, CIS, Cuba, Iceland, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe;
(d) those continuing to a third country and not leaving the airport transit area.
Types of visa and cost: Tourist, Business and Transit: £20
Validity: Valid up to three months from date of issue for stays of up to three months from date of entry. Extensions for a further three months are available from the Ministry of Home Affairs in Windhoek.
Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at High Commission); see Contact Addresses section.
Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Completed application form. (c) Two passport-size photos. (d) Return or onward ticket. (e) Fee. (f) Letter of invitation from Namibian resident, if applicable. Business: (a)-(f) and, (g) Company letter.
Working days required: Two to four.
Temporary residence: Apply to the High Commission or Embassy; see Contact Addresses section.
Money
Currency: The Namibian Dollar (NAD) has been introduced in note denominations of NAD200, 100, 50 and 10. Coins were also introduced in 1994 in denominations of NAD5 and 1. It is linked to the South African Rand (R) on a 1:1 basis (South African Rand = 100 cents). The South African Rand is also acceptable as currency in Namibia.
Currency exchange: Available in banks and at bureaux de change. A better rate of exchange can be obtained on travellers cheques than on cash.
Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, Diners Club, American Express and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or South African Rand.
Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is limited to NAD50,000. The import of foreign currency is unlimited, provided declared on arrival. Export of foreign currency is unlimited up to amount imported and declared as long as the departure is within 12 months.
Note: No limits exist for travel between Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland as these countries are members of the same common monetary area.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Namibian Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar:
| Date | May ’02 | Aug ’02 | Nov ’02 | Feb ’03 | | £1.00= | 14.58 | 16.45 | 14.99 | 12.83 | | $1.00= | 10.01 | 10.82 | 9.48 | 8.06 |
Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1530, Sat 0830-1100.
Duty Free
The following may be imported into Namibia by persons over 16 years of age without incurring customs duty:
400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco; 2l of wine and 1l of spirits; 50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; gifts to the value of NAD50,000 (including value of imported duty-free items).
Restricted items: Hunting rifles need a permit, issued by customs when entering the country. Handguns are not allowed.
Public Holidays
Dec 10 2002 International Human Rights Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Family Day. Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Mar 21 Independence Day. Apr 18-21 Easter. May 1 Workers’ Day. May 4 Cassinga Day. May 25 Africa Day (Anniversary of the OAU’s Foundation). May 29 Ascension. Aug 26 Heroes’ Day. Dec 10 International Human Rights Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Family Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Mar 21 Independence Day. Apr 9-12 Easter. May 1 Workers’ Day. May 4 Cassinga Day. May 20 Ascension. May 25 Africa Day (Anniversary of the OAU’s Foundation). Aug 26 Heroes’ Day. Dec 10 International Human Rights Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Family Day.
Health
| | Special Precautions | Certificate Required | | Yellow Fever | Yes | 1 | | Cholera | No | No | | Typhoid and Polio | 2 | N/A | | Malaria | 3 | N/A |
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from infected areas. Those countries or parts of countries that were included in the former endemic zone in Africa and South America are regarded by the Namibian authorities as infected. Travellers on scheduled airlines whose flights have originated outside areas regarded as infected but have passed through such areas in transit are not required to possess a certificate, provided they have remained at the scheduled airport or in the adjacent town during transit. All passengers with unscheduled airlines whose flights originated or passed in transit through an infected area are required to possess a certificate. The certificate is not insisted upon in the case of children under one year of age, but such infants may be subject to surveillance.
2: Typhoid may occur.
3: Malaria risk exists in the northern regions and in Otjozondjupa and Omaheke from November to May/June and along the Kavango and Kunene rivers throughout the year. The predominant falciparum strain is reported to be resistant to chloroquine. The recommended prophylaxis is chloroquine plus proguanil.
Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns may be contaminated and sterilisation is advisable. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.
Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is endemic. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water (also because of the presence of crocodiles). Swimming pools which are well chlorinated and well maintained are safe. Natural foci of plague have been reported in Namibia. Hepatitis A can occur. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic.
Health care: Anti-bite serums for snakes and scorpions are advised. Health insurance is essential.
Travel - International
Note: Travel to the immediate border areas with Angola is not recommended. For further information, visitors should seek official advice.
AIR: Namibia’s national airline is Air Namibia (SW), which provides a weekly direct flight from London to Windhoek, via Frankfurt/M. Other airlines include South African Airways, Lufthansa and LTU International Airways.
Approximate flight times: From London to Windhoek is 10 hours (including a stopover of 2 hours 35 minutes in Frankfurt/M).
International airports: Windhoek (WDH) (Windhoek International Airport) is 40km (25 miles) from the city (travel time – 35 minutes). Buses go to the city. Airport facilities include restaurant, bars, snack bar, duty-free shops, post office (Mon-Fri 0730-1600), bureau de change and car hire. Buses return to the airport from the Kalahari Sands Hotel in Windhoek.
Departure tax: None.
SEA: There is a modern deep-water harbour at Walvis Bay. There is also a small port at Lüderitz.
RAIL: The railway network linking most towns in Namibia to Windhoek is joined to the RSA rail system at Ariamsvlei, Namibia. There is one train per week, with connections from Cape Town and Johannesburg as follows: Johannesburg–De Aar–Keetmanshoop–Windhoek and Cape Town–Windhoek.
ROAD: A tarred road runs from the south through Upington in South Africa to Grünau, where it connects with the tarred road from Cape Town. The untarred road from the east from Botswana to Gobabis is currently being upgraded as part of a new trans-Kalahari highway. The trans-Caprivi highway runs through the Caprivi strip and via Botswana into Zimbabwe. Bus: Overnight services are available from Windhoek to Cape Town and Johannesburg; these depart approximately three times a week. Other services go to Botswana and Zambia.
Travel - Internal
AIR: Flying is the quickest and often the most economical way to travel around the country. Air Namibia (SW) links all of the major towns in the territory. Planes can also be chartered.
RAIL: The main rail routes in Namibia are Windhoek–Keetmanshoop–De Aar, Walvis Bay–Swakopmund–Windhoek–Tsumeb and Lüderitz–Keetmanshoop. First- and second-class carriages are available on these routes. Light refreshments are offered on some services. On overnight voyages, seats in first-class compartments convert to four couchettes and those in second class to six couchettes. Local passenger and goods trains run daily. Children under two years of age travel free and children two-11 pay half fare. The Desert Express, a luxury train aimed at tourists, runs between Swakopmund and Windhoek. The 19 hour 30 minute journey includes several stops which give travellers the opportunity to watch lions feeding, see the Namib Desert, walk in the sand dunes and admire the stars. A three-course dinner and overnight accommodation are included in the ticket price.
ROAD: Traffic drives on the left. Roads are generally well maintained. There are 64,799km (40,266 miles) of road, of which 7841km (4872 miles) are tarred. Bus: Services are not well developed and there is no transport except taxis in Windhoek. A luxury bus service exists between Windhoek and all major centres in Namibia and South Africa. Car hire: Self-drive cars are available at the airport and Windhoek city centre, as well as some other major centres. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.
Accommodation
HOTELS: There are good-quality hotels both in Windhoek and Swakopmund, and some scattered throughout the country. There are a number of 4-star hotels in Windhoek and one in Etosha; all provide modern conference facilities. In Swakopmund, there is one 4-star hotel. Hotel accommodation is limited and visitors are advised to book well in advance. For further information, contact HAN (Hotel Association of Namibia), PO Box 86078, Windhoek (tel/fax: (61) 222 904; e-mail: han@mweb.com.na; website: www.hannamibia.com). Grading: Hotels are graded on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.
LODGES: In the Etosha National Park and other game reserves, there are well-equipped rest camps with comfortable accommodation. Further information is available from the Hotel Association (see address above).
CAMPING: Some of the national parks have camping facilities, notably the Etosha National Park & Game Reserve. There is also camping at Ai-Ais, a hot-spring area towards the South African border, Hardap Dam in the south, Gross Barmen near Okahandja, Popa Falls in Kavango, in the Namib-Naukluft Park and at various places along the coast.
Introduction
Namibia has ten national parks, under the control of Namibian Wildlife Resorts. The country has ample opportunities for the self-drive tourist and many local tour operators and travel consultants offer interesting packages or arrange tailor-made tours covering a variety of areas. More information on tours and excursions can be obtained from Namibia Tourism (see Contact Addresses section).
WINDHOEK: Windhoek is the attractive capital of the country and is surrounded by mountains. Like other towns in Namibia, it has several examples of German colonial architecture, including the Christuskirche, the Alte Feste and the Tintenpalast (Ink Palace), the former colonial administrative building. Gross Barmen is a hot-spring resort to the north.
THE NORTHERN REGION: The Etosha National Park is one of the most famous game sanctuaries in the world and remains largely free of human influence. Its 22,270 sq km (8599 sq miles) are located in the north around the Etosha Pan. This depression is 1065m (3494ft) above sea level, forming a huge, salty hollow which is only occasionally filled with water and surrounded by grasslands and bush. There are vast stocks of wildlife, particularly elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, springboks, kudus, gemsboks or oryxes, hyenas, jackals, leopards and cheetahs. It is open throughout the year. There are well-equipped camps with comfortable rondavel accommodation and camping facilities. Waterberg Plateau Park, Namibia’s only mountain resort, has striking red sandstone cliffs and is home to many rare and endangered species of game. It is a popular stopover for visitors on their way to Etosha National Park. There are good facilities here for game viewing and a number of hiking trails. Also en route to Etosha is Lake Otjikoto, 24km (15 miles) northeast of the mining town of Tsumeb. Once fabled to be bottomless, it is now known to be 55m (140ft) deep and contains some rare fish. Northeast of here is Kaudom Game Reserve in Kavango, where there are two camping areas and where blue wildebeest, elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard and various species of antelope wander. Further northeast, the Popa Falls Rest Camp, where crocodiles and hippos bask in the water, is a popular haven on the banks of the Okavango River. About 12km (7 miles) to the south is Mahango Game Reserve, catering to day visitors only, with elephants, buffalo and lechwe. Heading still further northeast is East Caprivi, bordered by the Kwando, Linyanti, Chobe and Zambezi rivers. This region of swamps and flood plains has several safari lodges and offers boat trips, fishing, hiking and game viewing, particularly in the Mudumu and Mamili National Parks. The town of Katima Mulilo, on the banks of the Zambezi River, has an Arts Centre where visitors may purchase various handicrafts such as baskets, bracelets, malachite and soapstone carvings. There are also game-viewing cruises down the Zambezi River on the Zambezi Queen, a 56m (142ft) riverboat which departs from Zambezi Lodge. Flights to Victoria Falls, less than an hour’s flight away, are available from Katima Mulilo.
THE SOUTHERN REGION: Fish River Canyon is in the south of the country and only second in dimensions to the Grand Canyon. Situated between Seeheim and Ai-Ais (a hot spring resort), the gigantic cleft stretches for 150km (93 miles) and is up to 27km (17 miles) wide and up to 550m (1804ft) deep in parts. Trips are best arranged from Keetsmanshoop. Situated on the Fish River is Hardap Dam. The Kokerboom (Quiver Tree) Forest, located 14km (9 miles) northeast of Keetmanshoop on Gariganus Farm, features kokerbooms which belong to the aloe family and grow up to 8m (26ft) and were often used by the San people to make quivers for their arrows (thus ‘quiver trees’). The trees create a bizarrely elegant effect and are now a protected plant in Namibia.
Lüderitz is a small port in the southern Namib region, with much charm and atmosphere from bygone days of diamond prospecting.
THE NAMIB REGION: The Namib Desert appears more like the surface of the moon with its towering sand dunes (some of them 300m/1000ft high), and is believed to be the oldest desert in the world. Namib Naukluft Park, at 49,768 sq km (19,215 sq miles), is the fourth-largest conservation area in the world. There are campsites in the Namib Desert at Sesriem, where the Tsauchab River disappears down a deep gorge in the plain (leaving pools of water where many animals feed) and in the Naukluft. The nearby Sossusvlei area is an ocean of sand dunes up to 300m (762ft) high, stretching as far as the eye can see and is home to countless water birds in the rainy season and oryx, springbok and ostriches during the dry season.
The delightful little seaside resort of Swakopmund is situated in the middle of Namibia’s coastline, surrounded by desert and sea. Further north, the Skeleton Coast is a strange desert shoreline with massive dunes and treacherous rocks, the name relating to the number of ships wrecked and lost in the vicinity. The cold Benguela current keeps the coastline cool, damp and rain-free for most of the year, with a thick coastal fog.
Inland, the Brandberg/Twyfelfontein area has some very ancient rock engravings and paintings, of which the White Lady of the Brandberg is the best known. The Petrified Forest and the Welwitschia mirabilis plant are other attractions.
Sport & Activities
Northwest of Usakos, rising out of the Namib, is the 2000m (6562ft) Spitzkoppe where there is good mountaineering. Some of the coastal and river areas provide good opportunities for fishing, especially in the waters of the northern Caprivi strip. There are several hiking trails in the Fish River Canyon, the Waterberg Plateau Park, the Naukluft Mountains and the Ugab River. Sandgliding, a pastime popular amongst local people, is available in desert areas. Balloon safaris are organised by some tour operators. There are excellent opportunities for birdwatching. Namibia’s flat terrain and vast open spaces provide good off-road cycling.
Social Profile
Food & Drink: Restaurants and cafes reflect the German influence on Namibia, and most dining rooms offer a reasonable choice of local and continental cuisine. They are found mainly in the major cities. A speciality of Namibia is game, in all its variations; worth a try are biltong (air-dried meat) and Rauchfleisch (smoked meat).
Nightlife: In the central area of Windhoek, there are restaurants, cafes, a cinema and a theatre.
Shopping: Windhoek has a selection of fashionable shops. Local crafts can be bought in some specialised shops and at the Windhoek Street Market, held every second Saturday. Good buys include diamonds and semiprecious stones, Herero dolls, hand-carved wooden objects, jewellery, karosse rugs, liqueur chocolates made in Windhoek and Swakara garments. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0900-1300. Some bigger supermarkets are also open Sun 1100-1300 and 1600-1900.
Special Events: For a full list of special events taking place in Namibia during 2003, contact Namibia Tourism (see Contact Addresses section).
Social Conventions: Western customs prevail; normal courtesies should be shown when visiting someone’s home. Tipping: Ten per cent is customary.
Business Profile
Economy: The mining industry is the strongest part of the economy, the kernel of Namibia’s export economy, and accounts for about 20 per cent of GDP. Extracted minerals include silver, copper, lead, zinc, tungsten and uranium and Namibia is also the source of some of the world’s highest-quality diamonds. A much larger proportion of the workforce – 45 per cent against four per cent engaged in mining – is engaged in agriculture and fishing. Livestock dominates the agricultural sector, although a substantial proportion of the agricultural workforce is engaged in subsistence farming of crops such as wheat, maize and millet. Agriculture is becoming increasingly difficult over time as the desert encroaches on previously fertile soil; it has also suffered chronic damage from the recurrent drought afflicting the whole region. Namibia enjoys exceptionally rich fishing grounds, although stocks of pilchard – the main species in the area – have been depleted by uncontrolled fishing in the period before Namibian independence. Commercial shipping activity has picked up since the return of Walvis Bay, the best deep-water port in Africa on the Atlantic side, to Namibian jurisdiction (the apartheid government in Pretoria tried to hang on to the port, even after independence). The establishment of a free-trade zone at Walvis Bay has further enhanced its status as a centre for regional trade. Manufacturing is mainly devoted to processing of raw materials and agricultural produce. Most of the country’s trade is with South Africa, essentially involving the exchange of raw materials for manufactured goods. Recent economic policy has seen many former state enterprises transferred to the private sector. The economy has performed reasonably well during the last decade with average annual growth of between three and five per cent. Other than South Africa, the UK is the only other significant trading partner, followed far behind by the other larger EU countries, Côte d’Ivoire and the USA.
Business: Suits should be worn in winter, safari suits in summer. Prior appointments are necessary. English is widely spoken in business circles. The best times for business are February to May and September to November. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700.
Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PO Box 9355, Windhoek (tel/fax: (61) 228 809; e-mail: ncci@iafrica.com.na; website: www.ncci.org.na); or Conference Link Namibia, PO Box 9870, Erof, Windhoek 9000 (tel: (61) 251 014; fax: (61) 272 032; e-mail: info@conferencelink.com.na; website: www.conferencelink.com.na). Video conferencing is available.
Climate
The cold Benguela current keeps the coast of the Namib Desert cool, damp and free of rain for most of the year, with a thick coastal fog. Inland all the rain falls in summer (November to April). Summer temperatures are high while the altitude means that nights are cool. Winter nights can be fairly cold, but days are generally warm and pleasant.
Required clothing: Light cottons, with slightly heavier cottons or light woollens for evening. Inland, shoes are essential during the day as the ground is very hot.
History and Government
History: The coastal regions of Namibia were explored by the Dutch and Portuguese in the 15th century, by the English in the 18th century and by German missionaries in the 1840s. In 1884, the German government claimed the settlement at Luderitz as the centre of a protectorate which extended over the whole of what is Namibia, then known as South West Africa. A major uprising in 1908 by two of the indigenous tribes, the Nama and Herero, was put down by the Germans at the cost of 100,000 lives.
During World War I, the territory was occupied by the South Africans; they were granted a League of Nations mandate to administer the territory after the end of the war. The history of Namibia from the foundation of the United Nations in 1945 to independence in 1991 was dominated by the repeated refusal of the South African government to convert their League of Nations mandate to administer the country (which was granted after World War I) into a UN trusteeship, or indeed to recognise that the UN, or any other organisation, had a legitimate interest in the region.
In 1977, the five Western members of the Security Council began negotiations aimed at bringing about the implementation of Resolution 435, providing for UN supervised elections. Progress was very slow, but in 1988, the South Africans and Cubans agreed to withdraw their troops from Angola (see Angola section) as an essential preparatory step before a Namibia settlement, which quickly followed. Despite some initial problems with the demobilisation of the main political party, SWAPO (South West African People’s Organisation), and the South African forces in Namibia, the peace process developed more or less as planned. Elections were held in November 1989, with SWAPO taking 57 per cent of the votes, sufficient for an overall majority but less than the two-thirds for which the party was hoping to enable them to rewrite the UN-sponsored constitution.
The main rival to SWAPO, the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance led by Dirk Mudge, made a strong showing amongst whites and in areas populated by groups nervous of the Ovambo dominance of SWAPO. Although there were some complaints about alleged inefficiency and corruption, SWAPO had jettisoned much of its revolutionary rhetoric, knowing that Namibia’s future prosperity depended on overcoming the former divisions between different elements in the country. For that reason, as much as anything else, social transformation has been slow: in particular, the economy has remained largely in the hands of its previous white ownership. The continuing weakness of the opposition means, however, that SWAPO’s position is not under threat, and the party has secured comfortable majorities at subsequent elections in 1994 and 1999. A second opposition party, the Congress of Democrats enjoys a similar level of support – around ten per cent – to that of the Turnhalle Alliance.
In the autumn of 2002, President Nujoma, who plans to run for a fourth term, began to adopt some of the radical land reform plans implemented by Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. Farms belonging to non-resident foreigners are being expropriated. In addition, Hage Geingob, Namibia’s Prime Minister since independence, was sacked and replaced by Theo-Ben Guirirab.
As with much else, Namibia’s foreign relations are dominated by South Africa. The outstanding post-independence territorial issue between the two countries was the status of Walvis Bay, which South Africa maintained possession of. Following negotiations with Pretoria, the port was returned to Namibian jurisdiction in February 1993. Similarly, the dozen offshore islands which Namibia also claimed have been ceded. Namibia is a member of the Southern African Development Community, and has been engaged in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the side of Laurent Kabila (see Congo, Dem Rep of section).
Government: Under the Constitution which took effect upon independence in March 1990, executive authority rests with the President, who is directly elected for a five-year term. Legislative power is vested in the National Assembly with 78 members, 72 of whom are elected for five years while the remainder are presidential nominees (in May 1997 the Constitution was exceptionally amended to allow the incumbent President to seek a third term of office).
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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