N MARCH 1980 a group of local businessmen and "Lovers of Lude-ritzbucht" in Windhoek, Johannesburg and George combined to form the Luderitzbucht Foundation.

It had started in 1978 as a Civil Action Initiative to combat official neglect and economic collapse. The Town Council had been dissolved and the economically active population was dropping to unsustainable levels. In late 1979, a Conservation Study by the School of Architecture at the University of Natal documented the historic buildings and potential of Luderitz and roused locals to action. On 8 February 1980 a Public Meeting (dubbed by authorities a Protest Meeting) was attended by 350 concerned Buchters to voice frustration and create press awareness. The focus of attention was the imminent demolition of the old Bezirksamt building opposite the Kapps Hall for parking for Police vehicles. Many fine buildings had been destroyed in the previous two years by arbitrary decisions of outsiders and it symbolised the whole rotten Cinderella syndrome that Luderitz had become. The spark of fury and hope lit a local flame of unity: Save Luderitzbucht.
A petition was compiled and presented to the then Administrator-General, Gert Viljoen who, while appearing sympathetic and impressed by the "truly democratic movement", insisted we remain independent of government. He agreed that not all problems were official ones, so set up a Co-ordination Committee to address concerns with relevant departments. The Foundation itself drew up its own non-political constitution and was born in March 1980.

Inevitably, given the times, we were treated with some suspicion. As far as possible our methods were non-confrontational but persistent, trying to balance a broad vision of our town’s future with "normal" human grass-roots wishes and expose the absurd for what it was. With a core of active and loyal members, we approached so many areas of concern it would take a book to document - which few would now read! Suffice it to say that nobody will ever know the true impact we had on many aspects of the town for the next quarter-century. It was not so much the "doing it ourselves" as the motivating of relevant people to see the positive and the possibilties. One example was a "request" to the then authorities that the diamond areas be surveyed and then either exploited or handed back to the state as national parks for a gradual opening to tourism. Whether our arguments were effective or not, who can tell? It happened. Prospecting revived and by 1989 Elizabeth Bay mine was being built while prospecting intensified at Pomona, Bogenfels and around Luderitz Bay and north of the Orange River. Meanwhile the northern diamond area has been opened up to allow controlled tourism and the south will follow shortly.

Our first objective was to publicize the town positively, to attract visitors, businessmen, investors and the press to see the potential for themselves - hence "tourist" operations such as charter flights, coach tours and Special Trains and the 1983 Centenary and Dias 88 Festivals. The effects were long-term and helped the Buchters restore lost pride in their own buildings and in the town itself. Outsiders began to trickle in in the mid-80s; derelict houses were bought and renovated; small businesses opened; the economy slowly stabilized; plans were made.
It became clear early on that the best hope for the town lay in full Independence for Namibia, since Luderitz Bay would then be its "sole sovereign harbour". Great potential was seen to lie in plans for Kalahari and Caprivi links to central southern Africa, with Luderitz Bay as the gateway.

So the negatives had our attention - stop the closure and removal of our rail line, which at the time was our life-line. Petitions were also submitted on the tarring of the Road of Death - the final 110km of humiliating gravel between Aus and Goageb. At last in 1993 it was done, the first major tangible sign of support for Luderitz from any regime in two decades. Even now, the rail link is finally, slowly, being rebuilt. The potential of the Rosh Pinah area, pushed by the Foundation in the early 80s, is being realised with the massive Skorpion mine - finally justifying the bulk loads essential for any railway and for major improvements in our port - which also now provides for the "new" white-fish and marine diamond industries.
No-one ever thought that South Africa would simply hand Walvis Bay over to a free Namibia - which at a stroke in 1995 destroyed what could have been our sole "competitive advantage" so loved by economists and diverted all Luderitzbucht’s justifications for being the gateway to Africa.

Gradually from 1988, life seeped back into the veins of the patient, residents stayed, their children too. New fishing and diamond operations began, tourists came in larger numbers with the dropping Rand. In the early 90s our Town Council was reinstated after proper elections but the "historical debt", although frozen, kept like a sword over its head unlike other towns. Unfairness persists. But the economy and the populace revived, at last realizing the old vision of the Foundation: Luderitzbucht lives.
More recently, the Foundation wound down its involvement in promoting the town and has had roles only in the Museum and as a cash-conduit. Now even those roles have ceased.
The current drop in the economy? Another sad low from which this town will recover. It has been through much, much worse, with little infrastructure. Most of that is now in place or getting there. The roller coaster continues. Just be aware: next time the good times roll, they can stop suddenly. For a while. Until people have the guts to pick the town up. A generation ago, we did. There had been others before us, there will be others again. Be sure of one thing, barring major calamities, Luderitzbucht will live. It’s too good to waste.

Failures? Disappointments? Oh heavens yes. Among them the "phantom" Kudu gas fields that seemed to justify all our optimism for a while. Perhaps another generation or two... Also the number of toes we unsuspectingly trod on on our long march to freedom. Our apologies and thanks for your patience. We were enthusiasts, not experts in your fields - or in diplomacy. Desperation and vision can be impetuous partners. We could not hope to win all our battles. We claim credit only for having tried. We even foresaw a time when we might have to "save Luderitzbucht" from OVER-development. Does that now seem as far-fetched as it did then?
May I conclude by thanking from my heart all those hundreds of people over the years who gave their time, faith, energy and money in support of our town, of our vision and of our efforts. By thanking many instances that have gradually expanded aspects of their own fields of activity that were at some stage handled or promoted by the Luderitzbucht Foundation and have now at last rendered it no longer necessary: amongst them the Town Council, the tourist, mining, fishing and maritime industries, the Luderitz Chamber of Commerce and Industry, relevant ministries, councils and para-statals, schools - and the Buchter News. Above all, by thanking all our office-bearers, committees, members, supporters and the Buchters, and especially my long-suffering and supportive family. You helped fulfil dreams. As we celebrate on 21 March 2005, remember our establishment in March 25 years ago - exactly ten years before the long-awaited Independence of Namibia - and our eternal call: Luderitzbucht must live!