Republican Party (Namibia)
Encyclopedia
The Republican Party was a political party
in Namibia
, based among the white minority
. Henk Mudge
is its President and its sole representative in the National Assembly
. Prior to the 2004 parliamentary election
, the Republican Party was part of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA). It was revived as an independent party in 2003 and won 1.9% of popular votes and 1 out of 72 seats. In October 2010, the Party voted to dissolve and merge into the Rally for Democracy and Progress
.
The Republican Party was founded by Dirk Mudge
in 1977 and joined the DTA in the same year. In mid-2003, the Republican Party revived itself as an independent organization. Hardap Region
Governor Pieter Boltman resigned as party leader, opposing the party's moves to separate itself from the DTA, in July 2003, and he was succeeded by Henk Mudge, Dirk Mudge's son. DTA President Katuutire Kaura
denounced the moves to separate the Republican Party from the DTA, saying that Mudge acted unilaterally and illegally. Kaura claimed that Mudge wanted to create a party solely for "previously advantaged" minority Namibians, but Mudge denied that the Republican Party would be a party exclusively for whites.
Mudge stood as the Republican Party's candidate in the November 2004 presidential election, receiving 1.95% of the vote and placing sixth.
Mudge stood again for the Presidency in the 2009 election, where he gained 9,425 votes (1.16%), finishing seventh overall. Mudge was re-elected as the party's leader to the National Assembly.
In September 2010, the Republican Party was rumored to be merging with the Rally for Democracy and Progress
, the country's largest opposition party. Henk Mudge then announced that he would resign from Parliament on 14 October 2010 and confirmed the disbanding of the Republican Party, meaning that merger is now in full effect.
In March 2011, Mudge resigned as the party's President and fully from the National Assembly. Teacher and party chairperson Clara Gowases
was appointed and gave her initial speech to the National Assembly in April of that year.
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 among the white minority
Whites in Namibia
White Namibians are people of European or Southern African birth or descent living in Namibia. Most white Namibians are Afrikaners, while some are descended from German, Portuguese, or English immigrants.- Distribution :...
. Henk Mudge
Henk Mudge
Henk Mudge is a Namibian former politician. He is the former President of the Republican Party and formerly the party's only member in the National Assembly. He was replaced in the National Assembly by Clara Gowases....
is its President and its sole representative in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Namibia
The National Assembly of Namibia is the lower chamber of the country's bicameral Parliament. It has a total of 78 members. 72 members are directly elected through a system of party-list proportional representation and serve five-year terms. Six additional members are appointed by the President.The...
. Prior to the 2004 parliamentary election
Namibian parliamentary election, 2004
General elections were held in Namibia on 15 and 16 November 2004 to elect the President and National Assembly. The National Assembly election resulted in a landslide win for SWAPO, which won 55 of the 78 seats with over 75% of the vote. SWAPO's candidate for president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, won the...
, the Republican Party was part of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA). It was revived as an independent party in 2003 and won 1.9% of popular votes and 1 out of 72 seats. In October 2010, the Party voted to dissolve and merge into the Rally for Democracy and Progress
Rally for Democracy and Progress (Namibia)
The Rally for Democracy and Progress is an opposition political party in Namibia. It was launched on November 17 2007 under the leadership of Hidipo Hamutenya and Jesaya Nyamu, both former leading members of the ruling SWAPO party and cabinet ministers. Hamutenya had unsuccessfully sought the SWAPO...
.
The Republican Party was founded by Dirk Mudge
Dirk Mudge
Dirk Frederik Mudge is a Namibian farmer and former politician. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly and first National Assembly from 1989-1994. He broke with the National Party and sided with the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia...
in 1977 and joined the DTA in the same year. In mid-2003, the Republican Party revived itself as an independent organization. Hardap Region
Hardap Region
Hardap is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. It is home to the Hardap Dam.Hardap stretches the entire width of Namibia, from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to Namibia's eastern national border. In the northeast, it borders the Kgalagadi District of Botswana, and in the southeast, it borders...
Governor Pieter Boltman resigned as party leader, opposing the party's moves to separate itself from the DTA, in July 2003, and he was succeeded by Henk Mudge, Dirk Mudge's son. DTA President Katuutire Kaura
Katuutire Kaura
Katuutire Kaura is a Namibian politician. He has been President of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance since 1998 and was Leader of the Official Opposition from 2000 to 2005.Kaura was born in Ombujondjupa, Otjozondjupa Region...
denounced the moves to separate the Republican Party from the DTA, saying that Mudge acted unilaterally and illegally. Kaura claimed that Mudge wanted to create a party solely for "previously advantaged" minority Namibians, but Mudge denied that the Republican Party would be a party exclusively for whites.
Mudge stood as the Republican Party's candidate in the November 2004 presidential election, receiving 1.95% of the vote and placing sixth.
Mudge stood again for the Presidency in the 2009 election, where he gained 9,425 votes (1.16%), finishing seventh overall. Mudge was re-elected as the party's leader to the National Assembly.
In September 2010, the Republican Party was rumored to be merging with the Rally for Democracy and Progress
Rally for Democracy and Progress (Namibia)
The Rally for Democracy and Progress is an opposition political party in Namibia. It was launched on November 17 2007 under the leadership of Hidipo Hamutenya and Jesaya Nyamu, both former leading members of the ruling SWAPO party and cabinet ministers. Hamutenya had unsuccessfully sought the SWAPO...
, the country's largest opposition party. Henk Mudge then announced that he would resign from Parliament on 14 October 2010 and confirmed the disbanding of the Republican Party, meaning that merger is now in full effect.
In March 2011, Mudge resigned as the party's President and fully from the National Assembly. Teacher and party chairperson Clara Gowases
Clara Gowases
Clara Gowases is a Namibian teacher and politician. Gowases was elected the chairperson of the Republic Party in September 2009 and subsequently listed second on the party's electoral list for the 2009 general election. Gowases missed out on being elected to the NA as the party only won a single...
was appointed and gave her initial speech to the National Assembly in April of that year.