The Rinderpest Cordon of 1896–1897

Abstract

The origins of the colonial border between north and central Namibia date back to the late-nineteenth century and were part of the colonialist defensive measures against the rinderpest pandemic then threatening southern Africa. The following discussion first undertakes a reconstruction of the early history of the so-called “defense line” intended to halt the advance of rinderpest. I will consider the process of physical boundary-setting, as well as the underlying political and military context. My exploration exposes the limits on action faced by the colonial power during this early phase of colonization, as well as the colonial authority’s dependence on successful cooperation with local African partners. As we will see, all efforts to contain rinderpest were in vain. The outbreak of the pandemic, which resulted in massive losses among the herds of Namibia and the entire region, profoundly affected social, political, and economic life in the colony. From both a veterinary and socioeconomic standpoint, therefore, the rinderpest pandemic marked a turning point in the power relationships of the colony.