1971–72 Namibian contract workers strike

1971–1972 Namibian Contract Strike
1971–1972 Namibian Contract Strike
Part of the Namibian War of Independence and Apartheid
Date	13 December 1971 - March 1972
Location	Namibia
Goals	To end the contract labour system; Better working/living conditions
Resulted in	End of SWANLA contract labour; New contract labour system established
Parties
Contract workers & Indigenous peoples; SWAPO;	South Africa; Jan de Wet; Portuguese troops; Corporations: American Metal Climax; Newmont Mining;
Number
+25,000 workers
Casualties and losses
At least eight deaths

The 1971–72 Namibian contract workers general strike was a labour dispute in Namibia between African contract workers (particularly miners) and the apartheid government. Workers sought to end the contract-labour system, which many described as close to slavery. An underlying goal was the promotion of independence under SWAPO leadership.

The strike began on 13 December 1971 in Windhoek and on the 14th in Walvis Bay before spreading to the US-owned Tsumeb Mine and beyond. Approximately 25,000 workers participated in the strike, primarily those from Ovamboland in the country's densely-populated north. The strike continued into the next year, ending in March 1972.

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