National Unity Democratic Organisation

The National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO) is a political party in Namibia.

History

NUDO was founded by Mburumba Kerina, Clemens Kapuuo, and Hosea Kutako in September 1965 at the suggestion of the Chiefs' Council of the Herero people. At that time it was thus an organisation that had mainly Herero followers.^[1][2] At the 1975-1977 Turnhalle Constitutional Conference several ethnically based parties agreed to join the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance to form one joint opposition to SWAPO which at that time had turned the struggle for Namibian independence into a guerrilla war.^[3]

NUDO remained part of the DTA until it withdrew in September 2003, accusing the DTA of failing to work for Herero interests. It then held a congress in January 2004.^[4]

Election results

In the parliamentary election held on 15 and 16 November 2004, the party won 4.1% of popular votes and 3 out of 78 seats. Herero Chief Kuaima Riruako, the President of NUDO, was its candidate in the concurrent presidential election, placing fourth with 4.23% of the national vote. NUDO president Kuaima Riruako died on 2 June 2014, and was succeeded by Asser Mbai. in the 2014 National Assembly elections NUDO won 2 seats which went to President Asser Mbai and Secretary General Meundju Jahanika.^[5]

References

1. Dierks, Klaus. "Biographies of Namibian Personalities, K". klausdierks.com. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
2. Hopwood, Graham. "Who's Who, Mburumba Kerina". Guide to Namibian Politics. Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID). Retrieved 2 April 2013.
3. Kangueehi, Kuvee (22 October 2004). "DTA 'Down but Not Out'". New Era (via rehobothbasters.com). Retrieved 8 September 2011.
4. Political Parties of the World (6th edition, 2005), ed. Bogdan Szajkowski, page 429.
5. "ELECTION UPDATE 2004, NAMIBIA", EISA report, number 3, December 10, 2004, page 9.