WINDHOEK, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. - It is situated in the northern part of South-West Africa, which since 1920 has been a mandate of the Union of South Africa.
On 1 Aug. 1892 the prefecture of Cimbebasia (v. GUINEA) was divided into that of Upper Cimbebasia, for the part included in Portuguese Angola, and that of Lower Cimbebasia, for the part situated in South-West Africa. The latter received the name of Cimbebasia on 10 Jan. 1921, and on 11 May 1926 was raised to an apostolic vicariate under the designation of W. On 10 March 1950 the area of the Caprivi Strip was annexed to the apostolic prefecture of Victoria Falls, Livingstone (v.). It is entrusted to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and has an area of approximately 400,000 sq. km., with a population of 26,250 Europeans and 305,000 non-Europeans. European Catholics number 1,419, coloured Catholics 500, and natives 21,336; catechumens 1,462; missionaries 44, brothers 30; European nuns 159, native nuns 14; catechists 56; churches 38; schools 310.