Republican Party (Namibia)

The Republican Party (German: Republikanische Partei) is a political party in Namibia. It is based among the white minority.[2] Henk Mudge was its President and its sole representative in the National Assembly. Prior to the 2004 parliamentary election, the Republican Party was part of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA). It was revived as an independent party in 2003, and won 1.9% of popular votes and one National Assembly seat.

Politics of Namibia
Constitution Constituent Assembly
Executive President Hage Geingob Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa Cabinet
Legislature National Council Chairman: Bernard Sibalatani National Assembly Speaker: Peter Katjavivi
Judiciary Supreme Court Chief Justice: Peter Shivute
Administrative divisions Regions Constituencies
Elections Recent elections General: 2014 2019 2024 Regional: 2010 2015 2020 Political parties
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The Republican Party was founded by Dirk Mudge in 1977[3] and joined the DTA in the same year.[3][4] In mid-2003, the Republican Party revived itself as an independent organization.[4] Hardap Region Governor Pieter Boltman resigned as party leader, opposing the party's moves to separate itself from the DTA, in July 2003, and he was succeeded by Henk Mudge,[5] Dirk Mudge's son.[3] DTA President Katuutire Kaura denounced the moves to separate the Republican Party from the DTA, saying that Mudge acted unilaterally and illegally. Kaura claimed that Mudge wanted to create a party solely for "previously advantaged" minority Namibians,[4] but Mudge denied that the Republican Party would be a party exclusively for whites.[5]

Mudge stood as the Republican Party's candidate in the November 2004 presidential election, receiving 1.95% of the vote and placing sixth.[6] Mudge stood again for the Presidency in the 2009 election, where he gained 9,425 votes (1.16%), finishing seventh overall. He was re-elected as the party's leader to the National Assembly.

In September 2010, the Republican Party was reported to have begun the process of merging with the Rally for Democracy and Progress, the country's largest opposition party.[7] Henk Mudge then announced that he would resign from Parliament on 14 October 2010 and confirmed the disbanding of the Republican Party.[8] In the event he did not resign as a National Assembly member and party president until March 2011.[9] Teacher and party chairperson Clara Gowases was appointed in his place and gave her initial speech to the National Assembly in April of that year.[10] According to a later interview with Mudge, some Republican Party members were elected to local councils with RDP support at this time.[11]

The merger plan was apparently revived in 2013[12] and again early in 2014.[13] During the 2014 presidential election, Mudge initially urged party members to vote for Hage Geingob of SWAPO, before deciding to stand as a candidate.[14] He received 8,676 votes (0.97%) and finished fifth of nine candidates. In the concurrent parliamentary elections, the party received 6,099 votes and 1 seat. In the 2019 Namibian general election the RP received 14,546 votes and 2 seats.[15]