WINDHOEK, 5 December 1999
There was jubilation in the streets of Windhoek late yesterday as supporters
of the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO)celebrated
resounding victories in both the National Assembly and Presidential
elections.
With only five of the 103 constituencies still to be counted, the incumbent
president Sam Nujoma is leading the presidential race with 405 603 votes
representing 77 percent of the ballots counted so far.
His party SWAPO has already taken 393 999 votes, translating into 76 percent
of the National Assembly votes counted at this point.
The newly formed Congress of Democrats (CoD) is trailing behind with 51 313,
and the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance following closely at 48 648.
In the Presidential race, CoD's Ben Ulenga has polled 54 974 while DTA's
Katuutire Kaura stands at 49 775.
The trend indicates that SWAPO is almost certain to retain its two thirds
majority in the National Assembly, with a possibility of gaining more seats
than the 53 it won in the last elections of 1994. There are 72 elective
seats in Namibia's parliament.
CoD and DTA are set to share most of the remaining seats, with a few going
to United Democratic Front (UDF) which has so far managed to acquire 3
percent of the votes.
The fight for the official opposition is drawn between CoD and DTA. Final
results of the presidential and National assembly elections are expected to
be announced late today (Sunday) or tomorrow morning.
Swapo is holding a victory party later this afternoon at Windhoek's
independence arena to celebrate its emphatic victory in Namibia's third
multiparty elections.
(SARDC)
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