The Himba and the dam.

Abstract

The Namibian government has proposed the building of a hydroelectric dam on the Kunene River near the Epupa falls which could affect the lives of indigenous peoples surrounding the area. One of these groups of people is the Himba tribe one of the last tribes of traditional people who are generally self-supporting and fully or partially isolated from global society. 140 sq. miles of settlements grazing land and grave sites home to 16000 people will be flooded if the Namibian government pushes through with the plan. It is noted that the dam would destroy the Himbas livelihood as well as generate social change among the tribesmen. In a survey conducted by the World Commission on Dams it was found that 68 of the 123 dams worldwide they studied would displace people many of them in tribes that had little prior contact with the technological world. The Commission concluded that nearly all dams will negatively or positively change local peoples’ livelihoods and culture. To this effect several opposition groups have been created including Himba leaders foreign and local environmental groups.