Damara Executive Committee
Encyclopedia
The Damara Executive Committee was a political party
in Namibia
, based amongst the Dama
people. DEC was founded by a group of people based in the Damara Tribal Executive Committee (DTEC), which was not a political party as such. DEC soon became dormant, but was revived in 1960 by Josephat Gawanab.
In 1968 Josephat Gawanab became the president of DEC.
In 1971 Gawanab, together with Justus Garoëb
from the Damara Council
, are appointed leaders of the Dama people by the South Africa
n occupation authorities.
In 1977 DEC joined the Namibia National Front
. In 1978 it left the NNF and joined the Namibia People's Liberation Front
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, based amongst the Dama
Dama
Dama is a village in southern Syria, in As Suwaydā' Governorate. It is located in the heart of the Lejah lava plateau, 29 km north west of the city of As Suwayda....
people. DEC was founded by a group of people based in the Damara Tribal Executive Committee (DTEC), which was not a political party as such. DEC soon became dormant, but was revived in 1960 by Josephat Gawanab.
In 1968 Josephat Gawanab became the president of DEC.
In 1971 Gawanab, together with Justus Garoëb
Justus Garoëb
Justus Garoëb is a Namibian traditional leader and politician. He became Chief of Damara in 1982 and founded the United Democratic Front in 1989. He was a staunch opponent of South African rule and led the oppositional Namibia National Front in the late 1970s.Garoëb was born in Omaruru, Erongo...
from the Damara Council
Damara Council
The Damara Council was a political party in Damaraland, a Bantustan in South West Africa . In 1989, the DC was one of 8 political parties which formed the United Democratic Front. 6 of the 8 parties were ethnically affiliated, as they had taken part in the government's of various Bantustans...
, are appointed leaders of the Dama people by the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n occupation authorities.
In 1977 DEC joined the Namibia National Front
Namibia National Front
The Namibia National Front was an alliance of moderate parties in Namibia. It was formed in 1977 as a merger of the Namibia National Convention and the Namibia National Council....
. In 1978 it left the NNF and joined the Namibia People's Liberation Front
Namibia People's Liberation Front
The Namibia People's Liberation Front was an alliance of moderate political parties in Namibia. It was formed in 1978 by the Voice of the People Party, the Damara Executive Committee and the Bondelswarts Council....
.