Namibia?s national assembly and presidential elections 2009: Did democracy win?

Abstract

National Assembly and presidential elections were held in Namibia on 27 and 28 November 2009. The former liberation movement South West Africa People?s Organisation (SWAPO) once again secured an overwhelming majority of votes,which consolidated its de facto one-party rule. But the build up to these elections,the contestation by a newly established party and the disputed election results indicated a growing polarisation and a totalitarian tendency, which dents the positive image hitherto associated with Namibian democracy. This election analysis summarises features before, during and after the elections and puts the voting results into a party political context