1989 Namibian parliamentary election

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.

Namibia
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government 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 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, equating to a voter turnout of 97%.

Identification badge of a Foreign Observer issued during the 1989 election - (Chesley V. Morton of the Georgia House of Representatives)

Results
Parties Votes % Seats
South West African People's Organization 384,567 57.33 41
Democratic Turnhalle Alliance 191,532 28.55 21
United Democratic Front 37,874 5.65 4
Action Christian National 23,728 4.10 3
National Patriotic Front 10,693 1.59 1
Federal Convention of Namibia 10,452 1.56 1
Namibia National Front 5,344 0.80 1
SWAPO Democrats 3,161 0.47 0
Christian Democratic Action for Social Justice 2,495 0.37 0
National Democratic Party 984 0.15 0
Invalid/blank votes 9,958 - -
Total 680,788 100 72
Source: African Elections Database

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.

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]

References
  1. "Namibia Rebel Group Wins Vote, But It Falls Short of Full Control". The New York Times. 15 November 1989. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
  2. Wren, Christopher S. (15 November 1989). "Namibia Rebel Group Wins Vote, But It Falls Short of Full Control". The New York Times.
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