HOW about a story on the bridge over the Okavango River? This is one of the most magnificent tourist attractions in Namibia with a lot of history behind it.
Apparently, it was used by security forces during the liberation war as a prison [unconfirmed information]. It offers a good view over the mighty Okavango River.I remember taking pictures in 1996 as a nature conservation student, it was stunning! Unfortunately, currently no one is allowed to stop on the bridge and take a good picture or two, let alone just view.The security forces are watching you thoroughly especially if you have a foreign-registered vehicle.I am a Namibian and have been working in this area for the last ten years, currently working and living in Botswana.This has been going on for quite a long time now.The security force “bridge watching” was enforced during the failed Caprivi secessionist plot.I understand it was a national security threat.Is it still a threat and for how long it will remain a security threat? I would like to understand how a photo can cause a national threat.Case scenario: I once went over the bridge with two of my colleagues, British and American, and we took a photo as I just wanted to test if the situation remains the same.Guess what happened? A uniformed army officer instructed his colleagues to be ready and he stopped the car.He then ordered us to delete the photo we took otherwise he would not let us go.I asked him why he was not letting tourists take photos and he replied saying it was orders from high authority and he is doing his job.There is no signpost indicating that this is a military zone.This shows how uninformed they are and the weak communication in the chain of command.I do not know if this is written up in the tour guides and if the Directorate of Tourism is aware of this.Nathaniel Nuulimba Via e-mailIt offers a good view over the mighty Okavango River.I remember taking pictures in 1996 as a nature conservation student, it was stunning! Unfortunately, currently no one is allowed to stop on the bridge and take a good picture or two, let alone just view.The security forces are watching you thoroughly especially if you have a foreign-registered vehicle.I am a Namibian and have been working in this area for the last ten years, currently working and living in Botswana.This has been going on for quite a long time now.The security force “bridge watching” was enforced during the failed Caprivi secessionist plot.I understand it was a national security threat.Is it still a threat and for how long it will remain a security threat? I would like to understand how a photo can cause a national threat.Case scenario: I once went over the bridge with two of my colleagues, British and American, and we took a photo as I just wanted to test if the situation remains the same.Guess what happened? A uniformed army officer instructed his colleagues to be ready and he stopped the car.He then ordered us to delete the photo we took otherwise he would not let us go.I asked him why he was not letting tourists take photos and he replied saying it was orders from high authority and he is doing his job.There is no signpost indicating that this is a military zone.This shows how uninformed they are and the weak communication in the chain of command.I do not know if this is written up in the tour guides and if the Directorate of Tourism is aware of this. Nathaniel Nuulimba Via e-mail
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