American businessman Don Barden dies

DON H. Barden, black casino mogul from the US who in the nineties wooed Namibians with promises of mega-investments and industrialisation, has died.

Barden, who was 67, last Thursday lost his battle against lung cancer in Detroit.His professional life spanned over three decades of businesses in real estate development, casino gaming, broadcasting, cable television and international trade – marked by ups and downs.In 2001, Barden became the first black owner of a Las Vegas casino with his purchase of Fitzgeralds. Two years later, Black Enterprise Magazine selected Barden as Company of the Year. And in 2004, Barden received the Trumpet Award for Entrepreneur of the Year.In 2009, however, his gambling interests were declared bankrupt.In Namibia, Barden is known for two reasons: his company, Barden International, talked Government into buying hundreds of left-hand-drive vehicles, and he brought deceased superstar Michael Jackson to the country.In a deal negotiated by former President Sam Nujoma himself, Namibia paid N$136 million for 800 Chevrolets from General Motors (GM) in Detroit – on condition that an initial conversion plant in Windhoek would develop into a full-fledged assembly line employing Namibians.As part of the controversial deal, Government gave Barden a sizeable property in Prosperita in the capital. In December 1996, Barden and the Founding Father turned the first sod of what was believed would become Namibia’s assembly plant. In 1998, Barden and the King of Pop visited Namibia with plans to open a multimillion-dollar shopping complex at the Oshikango Export Processing Zone.The dreams were short-lived, though. In 2003, Barden Motors terminated the contract with GM. By December 2004, Barden shut its doors in Namibia, leaving Government with at least 200 grounded vehicles. Vehicles in the field broke easily and were expensive to maintain.Nothing came of business partners Barden and Jackson’s plans either.Barden is survived by his wife Bella and their two children, Don Jr. and Alana.

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