Democratic Alliance of Turnhalle

The democratic Alliance of Turnhalle (in German Demokratische Turnhallenallianz and in English Democratic Turnalle Alliance - DTA) is a founded Political party of Namibia in 1977 following the Conférence of Turnhalle.

At the time of the constitutional conference of Turnhalle (1975-1977) joining together the political parties of the South-western African (except notable for SWAPO) under administration of the South Africa, the principle of a government on three levels had been adopted (central capacity, of the local authorities at ethnic base, the municipal authorities) as well as the election of an National Assembly by the indirect suffrage.

The parties which had accepted this compromise (said conclusions of Turnhalle) were gathered the November 6th 1977 in a new political movement called " Democratic alliance of Turnhalle" (DTA). Its principal leaders are then Dirk Mudge (a white) and Clemens Kapuuo (chief of the black principal party present at Turnhalle, the NUDO). Alliance gathered the NUDO, the RBA (Ben Africa), the workers party (Andrew Kloppers), the Republican party (Dirk Mudge), the SWAPDUF (Engelhardt Christy), Nama alliance (Daniel Luipert) and the NDP (Cornelius Ndjoba).

The March 27th 1978, the president of the DTA, Clemens Kapuuo, is assassinated by the unknown ones. The SWAPO is marked.

In September 1978, general elections, for the first time according to the principle " a man a voix" but boycotted by the SWAPO and the SWANU, designate a constituent assembly. With a rate of participation of 80%, the DTA collects 82,2% of the voices (41 seats) vis-a-vis the ACTUR (11,9% and 6 seats either 2/3 of the white voices), with the democratic Christian party (2,7% or 1 seat), in Herstigte Nationale Party pro-apartheid of Sarel Becker (1,8% - 1 seat) and Basters of the Face of Release (1,4% - 1 seat).

The Council of Ministers is then set up whereas the near total of the laws of Apartheid are repealed.

Impossibility to be made recognize near UNO nevertheless will limit the possibilities of actions of the government and the Namibian assembly.

In 1989, the structures resulting from the conference of Turnhalle are dissolved in prelude to new constituent elections in November and the Indépendance of the country in March 1990.

With the elections of November, the DTA collects 28% of the votes and the statute of official opposition vis-a-vis the triumphing SWAPO. By gaining nevertheless 14 of the 23 districts of the country, the DTA profits from the massive support of the Hereros (66,4% in the Hereroland and 65,7% in the Kaokoland) and collects the majority of the votes at the Nama S (57,9% with Bethanie), at Mafwe (53% in the area of Caprivi) and even at the Basters de Rehoboth (45,2% with Rehoboth). It arrives second in the white electorate (28,55%).

The Nineties see cependantl' influence of Alliance being limited whereas internal dissensions undermine the party. The party does not manage to gain ground and must be found on the defensive to keep its fortified towns of the south of the country vis-a-vis the SWAPO.

In 2003, the Republican party withdraws alliance.

At the time of the elections of the 15 and November 16th 2004, the DTA did not join together any more that 5% of the votes and lost its statute of official opposition.

With the international level, the DTA associate member with the international democratic Union. Its fortified towns are the south of Namibia.

Electoral results since 1989

In 2006, the president of the party is Katuutire Kaura.

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