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Salient. Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 42 No. 4. March 19 1979

More Abuses

More Abuses

But the "elections" involved far more sophisticated techniques than mere threats and intimidation. For instance:
  • 60-80,000 Angolan refugees were registered (the population in the Kavango area had nearly doubled since 1975 due to attacks on the northern bank of the Cunene River).
  • The adult population figures were minipulated, excluding at least 40,000 Namibian refugees, but at the same time, where it suited, under-age people were frequently registered to vote. The English-language Windhoek Advertiser, commented within a week of the close of registrations: "It seems inconceivable that nearly 90% of the population have already registered. Nine out of the ten people approached say they have not registered, and do not intend to do so.
  • The DTA spent millions of dollars on their election campaign, with money coming from South African, West German and other mining interests. The London Times (Oct. 12) stated: "The DTA's opponents estimate the organisation spent more than 2.5 million pounds. For a small electorate (less than half a million) that must make it one of the most expensive election campaigns in the world."
  • These funds were spent on such items as free food to draw people to rallies and the buying out of the German and English speaking Daily papers in Namibia in April. The Western press said very little during the elections in Namibia. While the final result was generally reported, few papers pointed out that the UN had declared the election null and void. It comes as no surprise then that they failed to report the opposition that existed to the elections. SWAM (South West Africa Nation Union) also took the SWAPU stand of boycotting the elections. Notwithstanding the detention of over 100 SWAPO leaders and members before the election (including the Information and Publicity Secretary Damal Tjongarero) SWAPO was able to mount a massive demonstration, numbering many thousands, during the run-up to the elections.