DOC/OS(XXXIII)/324c/I 4 Introduction Dates of the visit and composition of the delegation The Commissioner, Dr Vera Mlangazuwa Chirwa, Special Rapporteur on Prisons and Conditions of Detention in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, African Union, visited Namibia from 17 to 28 September 2001. The purpose of this visit was to evaluate and document conditions of detention in Namibia and to start a constructive and permanent dialogue with the government of Namibia with the aim of improving conditions of detention and rehabilitation in Namibia. The Special Rapporteur was accompanied by: Dr. Alpha Oumar Sankarela Diallo, Chief Medical Officer, Security and Prison Services, Guinea Conakry - Annie Rashidi, Lawyer, the African Commission of Human and Peoples' Rights, Gambia - Audrey Pascaud, Assistant, France The African Commission of Human and Peoples' Rights wishes to thank them for their contribution to this mission. General situation in Namibia Geography Namibia is situated in Sub-Saharan Africa, with an area of 824,000 square kilometres. It is surrounded by Angola, Botswana and South Africa. It is one of the most arid countries in the world with a correspondingly low demographic density. Namibia is divided into 13 districts and 102 sub-districts. Population In 1991, the total population was 1,409,920 inhabitants, of which more than 70% lived in rural areas. Only 4.2% of rural families have access to electricity. 42% of the population are children under 15 years of age. 98% of the urban population have access to running water, whilst 75% of the rural population obtain water supplies from wells, artesian wells, streams, canals and lakes. The levels of literacy are 90% in cities and 69.2% in the countryside, although only 49% of the population can speak the official language of Namibia, namely English. While the overall level of schooling is high (77.6% have been to school), the number of those who actually finish the full school cycle is very low. Economic Features The Namibian economy depends primarily on agriculture and fishing. Mining, the manufacturing industry and tourism are also important. The growth rate has been 3.9% on average since 1989. Namibia has important assets to ensure its development. The country is politically stable. It has good infrastructure, a social security system and a solid fiscal basis. Namibia has also a low level of indebtedness and no international commitments involving structural adjustment or other economic restructuring programmes. In Namibia, as in many other African countries, agriculture supports the majority of the population. The dual structure of the sector explains why some 6,500