Exploitation

South Africa's continued illegal occupation of Namibia is only possible because of support from the multinational corporations who exploit the people and resources of Namibia for their own profit, backed up by the three Western powers on the Security Council — USA Britain and France. These corporations make use of the contract labour system whereby Namibian men are forced to leave their "homelands" to seek work, but they may not choose their job, or their wage, nor may they form a trade union or go on strike. Even worse, they are not allowed their wives or children with them for the 12-18 months they are away from home. One of the corporations in Namibia is the Rio Tinto Zinc Corporation which also has a holding in Comalco, and one of whose directors is also a director of the ANZ Bank. Another is the giant Anglo-American Corporation which markets most of the world's gem diamonds, through its subsidiary, the De Beers Consolidated Mining Company. These corporations are based in the USA, Canada, Britain, France, West Germany, Japan and South Africa.