SWAPO Democrats
Encyclopedia
The SWAPO Democrats was a political party formed from a break within the South West Africa People's Organization. Formed in Sweden
on 10 June 1978, the party was led by former leading SWAPO members Andreas Shipanga
(President), Kenneth Abrahams, Ottilie Abrahams
(Secretary-General), and Emil Appolus
was formed in response to a major party split within SWAPO which resulted in the forced detention of Shipanga and Solomon Mfifma during the 1975-76 SWAPO crisis.
SWAPO-D were generally seen by SWAPO as traitors and collaborators with the apartheid regime. In the mid-1980's SWAPO-D joined the Transitional Government
, in which all parties swore an allegiance to the Republic of South Africa. In the 1989 election
s, SWAPO-D failed to win a seat, obtaining 3,161 votes and was disbanded.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
on 10 June 1978, the party was led by former leading SWAPO members Andreas Shipanga
Andreas Shipanga
Andreas Zack Shipanga is a former Namibian politician. Imprisoned for two years following a fall-out with SWAPO leadership, Shipanga was arrested and held in detention in Zambia then Tanzania until 1978....
(President), Kenneth Abrahams, Ottilie Abrahams
Ottilie Abrahams
Ottilie Grete Abrahams is a Namibian activist, politician and educator.-Personal:Abrahams was born on 2 September 1937 in the Old Location township outside of Windhoek.-Activism:...
(Secretary-General), and Emil Appolus
Emil Appolus
Emil Appolus was a Namibian politician and businessperson. Living in Cape Town, Appolus was part of early discussions on Namibian independence. In 1957, Appolus became a founding member of the Ovamboland People's Congress, the forerunner to the current ruling party, SWAPO...
was formed in response to a major party split within SWAPO which resulted in the forced detention of Shipanga and Solomon Mfifma during the 1975-76 SWAPO crisis.
SWAPO-D were generally seen by SWAPO as traitors and collaborators with the apartheid regime. In the mid-1980's SWAPO-D joined the Transitional Government
Transitional Government of National Unity (Namibia)
The Transitional Government of National Unity was the government of Namibia from June 1985 to February 1989. The TGNU was a puppet government of Apartheid South Africa that sought moderate reform but was unable to secure recognition by the United Nations...
, in which all parties swore an allegiance to the Republic of South Africa. In the 1989 election
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:...
s, SWAPO-D failed to win a seat, obtaining 3,161 votes and was disbanded.