
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 21, 1990                   TAG: 9003232643
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA                                 LENGTH: Medium

NAMIBIANS CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE

The world's newest nation celebrated its birth today with parties, tribal dancing and parades, and ex-guerrilla leaders were sworn in as ministers of the new government.

About 25,000 Namibians cheered wildly at a sports stadium as the South African flag was lowered in Africa's last colony just after midnight, replaced by the red, green and blue banner of newly independent Namibia.

Tens of thousands lined the main street of Windhoek, the capital, for a three-mile parade.

"Africa's last colony is from this hour liberated," President Sam Nujoma said in his inaugural address after U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar swore in the former guerrilla leader. Nujoma led the 23-year fight to end rule by neighboring South Africa.

As a fireworks display lit up the sky, Namibians began impromptu parties throughout the capital of Windhoek and car horns blared through the night.

"This is beautiful. We are all thrilled. We have waited so long for this day," said Olga Basson as she watched gold and red fireworks ripping through the night sky.

President F.W. de Klerk of South Africa, who held his hand across his heart as he watched his nation's flag being lowered, called for an end to violence in southern Africa.

"I stand here tonight as an advocate for peace. The season for violence has passed for Namibia and the whole of southern Africa," de Klerk said. "It is above all a moment for hope. Hope that the future of this vast and beautiful land will bring peace."

Namibia's independence came on the 30th anniversary of the "Sharpeville Massacre," when 69 unarmed demonstrators were shot and killed in South Africa while protesting racial segregation laws in a black township south of Johannesburg.

Sharpeville was the turning point for the African National Congress, which broke with decades of non-violent protest to fight against South Africa's white-run government.

"The day was chosen as a sign of solidarity not only for the people of Namibia, but also with the people of South Africa," said Hifikepunye Pohamba, home affairs minister in the new government.

South African black nationalist leader Nelson Mandela drew a fervent burst of applause when he entered the stadium. Others attending included Secretary of State James Baker, Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze and the leaders at least 12 African nations.

by CNB