1989 Namibian parliamentary election explained

Country:Namibia
Flag Year:1982
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:1978 South West African parliamentary election
Previous Year:1978
Election Date:7–11 November 1989
Next Election:1994 Namibian general election
Next Year:1994
Seats For Election:72 of the 78 seats in the Constituent Assembly
Majority Seats:37
Image1:Namibia.SamNujoma.01.jpg
Leader1:Sam Nujoma
Party1:SWAPO
Popular Vote1:384,567
Percentage1:57.33%
Seats1:41
Party2:DTA
Popular Vote2:191,532
Percentage2:28.55%
Seats2:21
Image3:Damara_Gaob.jpg
Party3:UDF
Popular Vote3:37,874
Percentage3:5.65%
Seats3:4
President
Posttitle:Elected President
After Election:Sam Nujoma
After Party:SWAPO

Parliamentary elections were held in Namibia between 7 and 11 November 1989. These elections were for the Constituent Assembly of Namibia, which, upon independence in March 1990, became the National Assembly of Namibia.

Background

The elections were facilitated by the United Nations, after the withdrawal of South African troops from South West Africa (present day Namibia) after the 1988 Tripartite Accords. The UN established the United Nations Transition Assistance Group and through its resolutions 629, 632, 640 and 643 in 1989, implemented the United Nations plan for Namibia in resolution 435 (1978) to help secure free and fair elections, and eventually, the country's independence. The United Nations plan included overview by foreign election observers who monitored the election process. The work of foreign observers helped to ensure that the elections were certified as free and fair by the UN Special Representative.[1]

701,483 people registered to vote, with 680,788 casting votes, a voter turnout of 97%.

Aftermath

Following the election SWAPO supporters celebrated across Windhoek, especially in the segregated and predominantly black township of Katutura.[2] Dirk Mudge, chairman of the DTA, pledged to work with the SWAPO government in moving towards independence and national development. Support for the DTA and UDF was strong in the former bantustans, including Hereroland and Damaraland.[2]

As a result of SWAPO's election victory, its then president Sam Nujoma was unanimously declared President of Namibia, and was sworn in by UN Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar on 21 March 1990. Since then Namibia has held both presidential elections and parliamentary elections every five years.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Namibia Rebel Group Wins Vote, But It Falls Short of Full Control . . 15 November 1989 . 2014-06-20.
  2. News: Namibia Rebel Group Wins Vote, But It Falls Short of Full Control . Wren . Christopher S. . . 15 November 1989 .