Political Parties and Elections
For other political parties see List of political parties in Namibia. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Namibia.| Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hifikepunye Pohamba | SWAPO | 611,241 | 75.25 |
| Hidipo Hamutenya | RDP | 88,640 | 10.91 |
| Katuutire Kaura | Democratic Turnhalle Alliance | 24,186 | 2.98 |
| Kuaima Riruako | NUDO | 23,735 | 2.92 |
| Justus Garoëb | United Democratic Front | 19,258 | 2.37 |
| Ignatius Shixwameni | All People's Party | 9,981 | 1.23 |
| Henry Mudge | Republican Party | 9,425 | 1.16 |
| Benjamin Ulenga | Congress of Democrats | 5,812 | 0.72 |
| Usutuaije Maamberua | SWANU | 2,968 | 0.37 |
| David Isaacs | Democratic Party of Namibia | 1,859 | 0.23 |
| Frans Goagoseb | Namibian Democratic Movement for Change | 1,760 | 0.22 |
| Attie Beukes | Communist Party of Namibia | 1,005 | 0.12 |
| Rejected ballots | 12,363 | 1.52 | |
| Total (turnout ) | 812,233 | 100.00 | |
| Source: Electoral Commission of Namibia | |||
| Parties | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West Africa People's Organization | 602,580 | 74.29 | 54 | –1 |
| Rally for Democracy and Progress | 90,556 | 11.16 | 8 | +8 |
| Democratic Turnhalle Alliance | 25,393 | 3.13 | 2 | –2 |
| National Unity Democratic Organization | 24,422 | 3.01 | 2 | –1 |
| United Democratic Front | 19,489 | 2.40 | 2 | –1 |
| All People’s Party | 10,795 | 1.33 | 1 | +1 |
| Republican Party | 6,541 | 0.81 | 1 | — |
| Congress of Democrats | 5,375 | 0.66 | 1 | –4 |
| South West Africa National Union | 4,989 | 0.62 | 1 | +1 |
| Monitor Action Group | 4,718 | 0.58 | 0 | –1 |
| Democratic Party of Namibia | 1,942 | 0.24 | 0 | — |
| Namibian Democratic Movement for Change | 1,770 | 0.22 | 0 | — |
| National Democratic Party | 1,187 | 0.15 | 0 | — |
| Communist Party of Namibia | 810 | 0.10 | 0 | — |
| Appointed members | ||||
| Valid votes | 800,567 | 98.70 | ||
| Invalid votes | 10,576 | 1.30 | ||
| Total (turnout %) | 811,143 | 100.0 | 72 | — |
| Source: Electoral Commission of Namibia | ||||
Elections were held in 1992, to elect members of 13 newly established Regional Councils, as well as new municipal officials. Two members from each Regional Council serve simultaneously as members of the National Council, the country's second house of Parliament. Nineteen of its members are from the ruling SWAPO party, and seven are from the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA). In December 1994, elections were held for the President and the National Assembly.
Namibia has about 40 political groups, ranging from modern political parties to traditional groups based on tribal authority. Some represent single tribes or ethnic groups while others encompass several. Most participate in political alliances, some of which are multiracial, with frequently shifting membership.
SWAPO is the ruling party, and all but one of the new government's first cabinet posts went to SWAPO members. A marxist-oriented movement, SWAPO has become more right wing and now espouses the need for a mixed economy. SWAPO has been a legal political party since its formation and was cautiously active in Namibia, although before implementation of the UN Plan, it was forbidden to hold meetings of more than 20 people, and its leadership was subject to frequent detention. SWAPO draws its strength principally, but not exclusively, from within the Ovambo tribe. In December 1976, the UN General Assembly recognized SWAPO as "the sole and authentic representative of the Namibian people," a characterization other internal parties did not accept.
In the 1999 presidential and parliamentary elections, SWAPO continued its history of political dominance, taking 55 of the 72 Assembly seats, and returning President Sam Nujoma to the office for his third term. The principal opposition parties are the Congress of Democrats (CoD) and the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), with each possessing seven seats in the National Assembly.
Read more about this topic: Politics Of Namibia
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