1971–72 Namibian contract workers strike
| 1971–1972 Namibian Contract Strike | |||
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| Part of the Namibian War of Independence and Apartheid | |||
| Date | 13 December 1971 - March 1972 | ||
| Location | |||
| Goals | To end the contract labour system Better working/living conditions | ||
| Resulted in | End of SWANLA contract labour New contract labour system established | ||
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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.