Caprivi Strip

TheCaprivi Strip,also known simply asCaprivi,is ageographic salientprotruding from the northeastern corner ofNamibia.It is bordered byBotswanato the south andAngolaandZambiato the north. Namibia, Botswana and Zambia meet at a single point at the eastern tip of the Strip, which also comes within 150 m (490 ft) ofZimbabwe,thus nearly forming aquadripoint.Botswana and Zambia share a 150-metre (490 ft) border at the crossing ofKazungula.

Map of the Caprivi

The territory was acquired in 1890 by then-German South West Africain order to provide access to theZambezi Riverand consequently a route to the east coast of the continent andGerman East Africa.The route was later found not to be navigable because of the location of theVictoria Falls,one of the world's largest waterfalls, about 65 kilometres (40 miles) east of the Caprivi Strip,and because of more waterfalls downstream such asKariba GorgeandCahora Bassa.

Within Namibia, the Strip is divided administratively between theKavango EastandZambeziregions. It is crossed by theOkavango River.TheCuando Riverforms part of its border with Botswana, and the Zambezi River forms a part of its border with Zambia. The width of the strip varies from about 32 km (20 mi) to 105 km (65 mi). Its largest settlement isKatima Mulilo,located at the point where the Zambezi reaches the Strip.

Toponym

When Namibia was a German colony, the Caprivi Strip was known inGermanasCaprivizipfel.Before colonisation, it was known asItenge.During a short-lived secession attempt around the year 2000, the nameItengewas used by the separatists. It is also sometimes called theOkavango Panhandle.

Languages

Inhabitants of the Caprivi Strip speak a number of African languages, mostly members of theBantulanguage family, with speakers of Mbarakwena [Xu-Khoisan],HukweaSanlanguage, in the northwest of the strip near the border with Angola. The Bantu languages includeYeyi(or 'Yei' or 'Yeeyi'),Mbukushu,Gciriku(or 'Dciriku'),Fwe,Totela,andSubiya.The Silozi language is a lingua Franca of the Caprivi Strip, especially inKatima Mulilo,where some residents speakLozi,a language of westernZambia,as alingua franca.Many also speak English, whileAfrikaans has almost disappeared.

Natural features

Village in the Caprivi Strip

The area is rich in natural wildlife and has mineral resources. Of particular interest to the government of Namibia is that it gives access to theZambezi Riverand is thereby a potential trading route to Africa's East Coast. However, the vagaries of the river level, various rapids, the presence of theVictoria Fallsdownstream and continued political uncertainty in the region have made such use of the Caprivi Strip difficult. However, it may be used forecotourismin the future.

Within Namibia the Caprivi Strip provides significant habitat for the criticallyendangeredAfrican wild dog(Lycaon pictus).It is a corridor forAfrican elephantmoving from Botswana and Namibia into Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe. National parks found in the Caprivi Strip areBwabwata National Park,Mudumu National ParkandNkasa Rupara National Park.Local communities have organised themselves into communal area conservancies and community forests. People work closely with the Namibian Government to jointly manage natural resources through several programmes set up between the Namibian Government and various donor parties.

History

German chancellorGeorg Leo Graf von Caprivi de Caprera de Montecuccoli,who gave his name to the Caprivi Strip

Caprivi was named afterGerman ChancellorLeo von Caprivi(in office 1890–1894), who negotiated the acquisition of the land in an 1890 exchange with the United Kingdom. Caprivi arranged for the Caprivi strip to be annexed toGerman South West Africain order to give Germany access to theZambezi Riverand a route to Africa's east coast, where the colony ofGerman East Africa(now part ofTanzania) was situated.The transfer of territory was a part of theHeligoland-Zanzibar Treatyof 1890, in which Germany gave up its interest inZanzibarin return for the Caprivi Strip and the island ofHeligolandin theNorth Sea.

The river later proved unnavigable and inaccessible to theIndian Oceandue to the location of theVictoria Fallsand more falls, a fact that was possibly already known to the British side during the negotiations. Caprivi itself was remote and inaccessible during the rainy season, and the Germans did not find use for it. After a mineral expedition in 1909 proved unsuccessful, Germany contemplated exchanging the strip for some other British territory, such asWalvis Bay.When that territory was transferred to theCape Colonyby the British in 1910, Germany was stuck with Caprivi for the rest of its colonial history.

In 1976, the South African administration established the self-governingEastern Caprivi homelandwith its own flag, national anthem, and coat of arms.It remained under directde factocontrol of the South African government in Pretoria until 1980, when its administration was transferred toSouth West Africa's administrationin Windhoek.

In the late 20th century, the Caprivi Strip attracted attention when Namibia and Botswana took a long-standing dispute over its southern boundary to theInternational Court of Justice.The core of theterritorial disputeconcerned which channel of theChobe Riverwas thethalweg,thebona fideinternational boundary. This was important, as, depending on the decision, a large island (known asKasikili or Sedudu,by Namibia and Botswana respectively) would fall into one or the other's national territory. The Botswana government considered the island as an integral part of theChobe National Park,whereas the Namibian government, and many inhabitants of the eastern Caprivi Strip, held that not only was the island part of the original German–British agreement, but generations of inhabitants had used it for seasonal grazing, for reed-gathering, and as a burial site. In December 1999, the International Court of Justice ruled that the main channel, and hence the international boundary, lay to the north of the island, thus making the island part of Botswana.

Politics

The Caprivi Strip is of politico-strategic military importance. During theRhodesian Bush War(1964–1979),South West African People's Organization's andCaprivi African National Union's (CANU) liberation war against theSouth Africanoccupation (1965–1994) and theAngolan Civil War(1975–2002), the Strip saw continual military action and multiple incursions by various armed forces using the Strip as a corridor to access other territories.

Caprivi conflict

Namibian military escort through the Caprivi Strip.

Main article:Caprivi conflict

TheCaprivi conflictinvolved an armed conflict inNamibiabetween theCaprivi Liberation Army(CLA), arebelgroup aiming for the secession of the Caprivi Strip led byMishake Muyongo,and the Namibian government. Its main eruption occurred on 2 August 1999 when the CLA launched an attack in Katima Mulilo, occupying the state-run radio station and attacking a police station, the Wenela border post, and an army base. Namibian armed forces quashed the attempt atsecessionwithin a few days.

References

• Derek F. Gowlett. 1989. The parentage and development of Lozi.Journal of African Languages and Literature,11, 127–149.
• C. Michael Hogan. 2009.Painted Hunting Dog: Lycaon pictus,GlobalTwitcher, ed. N. Stromberg