Namibian parliamentary election, 1989

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 435 (1978) to help secure free and fair elections, and eventually, the country's independence.

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

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

Aftermath

Following the election, SWAPO supporters celebrated across Windhoek, especially in the segregated suburb of Katutura. 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.

External links

• "Namibian Voters Deny Total Power to SWAPO," by Michael Johns, The Wall Street Journal, November 19, 1989.