Lüderitz/Lüderitz (dpa/sa) - Lüderitz in the Altmark and Lüderitz in Namibia came closer during a visit. After a first meeting in the Namibian port city, he sees further development opportunities, especially in private contacts, said Tangerhütte Mayor Andreas Brohm (independent). Lüderitz belongs to the unified municipality of Tangerhütte near Stendal. "With a view to our own resources, we have to see what can come up next." This can be very specific and regular on a personal level. A zoom meeting was arranged for the end of January.
On November 4th, an official delegation from the Altmark traveled to the southwest African country for the first time to take part in a networking meeting for German-Namibian municipal partnerships in the capital Windhoek. She returned on Saturday. The path also led to the town of Lüderitz, which has around 12,000 inhabitants. In several places, large plaques announce that there is another Lüderitz in the world. Among other things, the German delegation visited various schools. Pupils from the Altmark gave letters and digital messages to their Namibian peers.
"We are very excited and honored to have reinvigorated the relationship between us and Lüderitz, Germany," said Chairman of the Management Committee of the Namibian city of Lüderitz, Philip Balhao. The port city is named after the German merchant Adolf Lüderitz. In addition to fishing, tourism is one of the most important sources of income. Although only about 50 German speakers still live there, German culture still characterizes the place today. Terrible crimes were also committed by the German colonial power in Lüderitz. There are therefore efforts to change the place name.
For around five years, the two municipalities have maintained what was previously a loose, friendly relationship. The city council of Tangerhütte and the Town Council of Lüderitz (Namibia) decided to expand their relationship in 2018. Since then there have been a number of contacts, mostly on a private level. The highlight so far in 2019 was a concert by a Namibian choir in the village church in Lüderitz in Altmark.
