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Namibia - in the search of diamonds - 1998

Namibia - in the search of diamonds - 1998

Jacek Pałkiewicz
2006-06-18 22:40:07

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of diamantiferous rock.

Today the company processes five times as much, and three times as much as during the 1970s. The existing deposits at Oranjemund, which were first mined in 1936, are already two thirds exhausted and will continue production for a furhter ten years only.
The road climbed for some time until a wide plain opened in front of me. On the horizon I could see a green and white oasis, which was the mine's residential zone. Before passing through the last security fence, Mike handed me over to Mrs. Hogan. Her credentials showed her to be part of the Public Relations department, but she admitted, two days later, that she too worked for the security department.

The town, which has 8000 inhabitants, is a classical product of British colonialism, full of pretty white houses with well-kept lawns and fountains which try to freshen the aridity of the Namib desert. More than 40 clubs cater to the workforce's recreational needs. The bars can have no complaint to make, either. Beer, whisky and wine flow like the waters of the river Orange. The bars are mostly dominated by whites. The Africans, who are of the Ovambo tribe and were brought down from the far north of the country to work in the mines, prefer to stay at home. Despite all the facilities, social life here is far from serene.

"I could tell you all kinds of stories about affairs and so on", said Natalino, a Calabrese who arrived in Oranjemund two years ago from South Africa and now works as the head cook of a restaurant. On his arrival he tried to enter the security service. He passed the psychology test, he had good references, but a check on his record revealed a period of three months in Germany that was not accounted for. He was therefore rejected. As a result he continues in his job as a cook and in his free time studies religion\ "I'm not a Catholic any longer", he told me, citing the name of a sect I had never heard of, "but I am a believer. You ...

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My youngest son was born in Oranjemund in 1972. We left there in 1974 having enjoyed all the facilities there at the time. Many a time my son has expressed a wish to return to his birth place, out of interest,To see his roots. There certainly was a high divorce rate there at that time, but we found it a friendly place. We left our Bull Terrier dog with one of the security families, & often wondered about him. He was called 'Buzzy' & the children missed him loads. Unfortunately the ill health of my mother lead to our return to the uk.A good move...Maybe ....who knows, it was a lovely rugged country, with good education for the younger children, fantastic health provision, & great opportunities to enhance ones status, carreer wise. We never kept in touch with anyone there, but no doubt they have all moved on by now. With the security still so very tight, I dont suppose my son James will ever fulfill his wish. It would be nice though.If there is a possibility, & anyone could help, we can be contacted via 'gsmith404@btinternet.com' Very interesting article.

Pat Smith, 2007-03-28 23:39:34