Gym conference
The gym conference marks the negotiation of political groups in South West Africa between September 1975 and October 1977 with the aim of drafting a constitution.
prehistory
After the International Court of Justice in 1971 condemned the continuing South African presence in South West Africa as unlawful and in 1973 the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) was recognized by the General Assembly of the United Nations as "an authentic representation of the Namibian people", the mandate South Africa began to give in increasingly. South Africa increasingly stated that the citizens of South West Africa should decide for themselves about their future.
In this context, the initiative was taken to hold a conference of all ethnic groups of South West Africa, but to the exclusion of the mandate power.
conference
The conference began on September 1, 1975 and took place in the eponymous gym in Windhoek . The conference included representatives from all 12 ethnic groups, led by Dirk Mudge . Political parties, however, were not allowed to participate in the meeting.
In August 1976 the gymnasium conference unanimously decided the independence of South West Africa on December 31, 1978. To prepare for independence, a transitional government was to be set up, consisting of a parliament and a council of ministers. The individual ethnic groups should each send a representative to the government. In addition, it was decided to draw up a constitution for the transitional government, which should also serve as the basis for the final constitution.
The United Nations rejected the proposals of the gym conference , whereupon the South African Prime Minister Vorster emphasized that the decisions of the conference would also be implemented against the will of the United Nations.
On May 18, 1977, a referendum on the constitutional proposal of the gymnasium conference , the referendum in South West Africa 1977 , took place. It was accepted, but ultimately never passed.
On October 6, 1977 the gym conference was officially dissolved. A month later, through the merger of a large number of different parties, the Democratic Sports Hall Alliance (DTA) was founded. This is led by Ovaherero leader Clemence Kapuuo as first president and Dirk Mudge as chairman.
In September 1978, the adopted United Nations Security Council , the Resolution 435 , his troops was asked in South Africa to withdraw from South Africa and the elections free and fair under the supervision of the United Nations to take place.
South Africa opposed this resolution and held elections in December 1978 in South West Africa . The DTA won the elections with more than 82%. However, SWAPO, Namibia National Front and SWAPO Democrats did not take part in the elections.