/ 20 March 2000

LEADERS TO ATTEND NAMIBIAN CELEBRATIONS

NINE African heads of state are expected to arrive in Namibia to attend the country’s 10th independence celebrations. Three former presidents are also expected to witness President Sam Nujoma being sworn in for a third successive term during celebrations at Windhoek’s Independence Stadium on Tuesday. The independence anniversary celebrations have drawn the largest gathering of international dignatories to the southwestern African country of 1.8 million people since independence from South Africa on March 21, 1990. Also among guests expected to arrive on Monday is former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, who was the United Nations special representative to Namibia during the transition to independence. Both former president Nelson Mandela and his successor Thabo Mbeki are expected to attend the celebrations. The eight African heads of state expected on Monday are Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya, King Mswati III of Swaziland, Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola, Festus Mogae of Botswana, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, and Frederick Chiluba of Zambia.