Namibia - CountryWatch

Political Overview Leader Biography
Source: Government of Namibia Online, available at URL: http://www.grnnet.gov.na
2009 Election Note:
The country was gearing up for elections set for November 2009. Months ahead of the elections, political
parties began their political campaigns. The country's dominant party, South West African People's
Organization or SWAPO, held an advantage thanks to institutional and financial resources at its
disposal, and expended its effort in disseminating its policy platform via a 41-page political manifesto.
Incumbent President Hifikepunye Pohamba -- the head of SWAPO -- made it clear that his party's priority
would focus on economic development as the foundation to increased job creation. This was a
core issue a country burdened by a 40 percent unemployment rate. He also emphasized that rural
development and housing were other central aspects of his party's proposals. Pohamba additionally
delineated his party's other objectives saying, "The SWAPO Party will ensure that investments are
made and promoted in agriculture, mining, fisheries, manufacturing, tourism, finance, information
technology and construction. "
One of the opposition parties contesting the presidency as well as the seats in parliament was the Rally
for Development and Progress (RDP), led by former SWAPO member, Hidipo Hamutenya. For his
part, Hamutenya explained his party's platform saying, "The provision of affordable, accessible and
quality health care is at the core" of the social agenda. He also noted that health services and facilities
in Namibia had "seriously deteriorated." The RDP party also said it aimed to improve the foreign
investment environment, including the reform of the country's Investment Act. In addition, the RDP
said it intended to restructure the national air carrier, Air Namibia, which has been dependent on government
funds including infusions of bailout money. Increased access to housing was also named by
this party as part of its election proposals.
The Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), led by Kaatutire Kaura, vowed to both increase teachers'
salaries and ameliorate their performance in the classrooms. The DTA emphasized the problems of
manifold unemployment and poverty as being key priority issues, and to that end, called for increased
vocational training and improved health services and infrastructure. The DTA also noted that financial
prudence should be advances, marked by curbing the inefficiency of and wasteful spending of parastatals
and privatizing non-performing state-owned companies.
The National Unity Democratic Organization (NUDO), led by Kuaima Riruako, emphasized education
as the best course to poverty alleviation and creating greater opportunities for people. Like DTA,
NUDO has called for increased salaries for teachers as a means to improve education. NUDO has also
said that education should be provided to Namibians for free, and that it would concentrate on development
of rural communal areas.
All People's Party (APP) led by Ignatius Shixuameni, a former deputy minister, said his party aimed to
help up to 100,000 households living in poverty. The APP was calling for a greater share of the country's
resources to benefit the people. The APP said it endorsed the notion of mining, fishing and finan-
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