Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa
1. Emancipation for the Development of the Marginalised Minorities in Namibia (EMADEMA)
Information about the organization EMADEMA was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Media sources indicate that EMADEMA stands for the Emancipation for the Development of the Marginalised Minorities in Namibia (AllAfrica 12 Mar.2012; Namibian Sun 10 Feb. 2012; New Era28 Feb. 2012).
Sources report that the organization accused the government and the governing South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) of neglecting minorities (INamibia 21 Mar.2012; New Era 28 Feb. 2012), of channelling government resources to the northern part of the country (ibid.; INamibia 21 Mar.2012.; Namibian Sun 10 Feb. 2012) and of "only serving the interests of one tribal group in the country" (INamibia 21 Mar.2012). New Era calls EMADEMA a "ghost organisation" and indicates that EMADEMA leaders could not be reached at the contact numbers they had themselves provided (28 Feb. 2012).
2. Leadership
Sources state that the head of EMADEMA is Jeremiah Kuhepa Kaambo (New Era 28 Feb. 2012; AllAfrica 12 Mar.2012; Namibian Sun 10 Feb. 2012). According to the media reports, Kaambo criticized the government of Namibia in an open letter to SWAPO (ibid.; AllAfrica 12 Mar.2012) for ignoring problems of minority groups (ibid.; INamibia 21 Mar.2012).
According to the Namibian Sun, a Windhoek-based newspaper, the government denied all the allegations and accused Kaambo of having "a hidden agenda of spreading hatred and discord between and amongst Namibian ethnic groups" (10 Feb. 2012). In addition, the Minister of Information and Communication Technology claimed that EMADEMA's agenda was creating tribal tension and "could result in full-blown civil strife" (AllAfrica 12 Mar.2012).
AllAfrica news agency reports that charges were laid against Kaambo in November 2011, case number CR 579/11/2011 (ibid.). The AllAfrica article indicates that, according to the head of Police Public Relations, he is suspected of committing "'theft under false pretence'" (ibid.). Kaambo reportedly "accepted money from individuals in exchange for assisting them to emigrate to Canada" (ibid.). The alleged theft is of 14,000 Namibian dollars [C$1714.00 (XE 14 May 2012)] (AllAfrica 12 Mar.2012). New Era states that, according to the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Kaambo "is currently on the run from justice because of fraud he allegedly committed in the country" (New Era 28 Feb. 2012).
Information about the mandate, services, funding, location, and structure of EMADEMA, and whether the organization issues letters to people in Canada could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
AllAfrica. 12 March 2012. Toivo Ndjebela. "Namibia: Emadema Boss Wanted for Theft." <http://allafrica.com/stories/201203121134.html> [Accessed 30 Mar.2012]
INamibia. 21 March 2012. Peter Mietzner."Namibian Citizens Fail to Reconcile After 22 Years." <http://www.inamibia.co.na/news/local/item/15126-namibian-citizens-fail-to-reconcile-after-22-years?.html> [Accessed 1 May 2012]
Namibian Sun. 10 February 2012. "Govt Reacts to 'EMADEMA Open Letter'." <http://sun.com.na/content/letters/govt-reacts-%E2%80%98emadema-open-letter%E2%80%99> [Accessed 1 May 2012]
New Era. 28 February 2012. Toivo Ndjebela. "EMDEMA's Ghost Resurfaces." <http://www.nammywood.com/articles/43168/EMADEMA-s-ghost-resurfaces> [Accessed 30 Mar.2012]
XE. 14 May 2012. "Currency Converter Widget." <http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert/?Amount=14000&From=NAD&To=CAD> [Accessed 14 May 2012]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral Sources: Attempts to contact representatives of EMADEMA were unsuccessful.
Internet sites, including: Africa Files; Africa Research Bulletin; African Confidential; African Elections Database; Afrik.com; Amnesty International; Ecoi.net; Factiva; Freedom House; Human Rights First; Human Rights Watch; International Federation for Human Rights; Jeune Afrique ; Legal Assistance Centre; Migration Policy Group; Minority Rights Group International;The Namibian; Political Handbook of the World; Reporters Without Borders; SWAPO Party; United Nations (UN) – Integrated Regional Information Networks, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; RefWorld, UN Development Program, UN High Commissioner for Refugees; US Department of State.
