Seven years after independence, Namibia is still characterised by gross inequalities. Despite some success in representation and institutional culture, affirmative action has been ineffective in the area of socio-economic redistribution. The author looks critically at affirmative action and its potential to reform, or transform, society. He traces the origin of affirmative action and evaluates the experiences of societies such as Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia, which have implemented affirmative action along ethnic lines, with greater or lesser success. Their common factor with Namibia is that they are ethnically heterogeneous. The study also draws comparisons with Zimbabwe and other southern African countries when addressing the issue of limited government control in implementing a highly controversial policy. The difficulties are considerable in the light of the government's stated aim of national reconciliation and nation building.