Rebels Unveil Plan for Namibia Election

WINDHOEK, Namibia —  Rebel leaders on Sunday unveiled their plan for Namibia’s independence election, toning down their Marxist heritage to placate the fears of foreign business interests in the South African-ruled territory.

The South-West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), which fought a 23-year guerrilla war against Pretoria’s rule over Namibia, presented its election plan before thousands of cheering spectators at a rally in Windhoek’s black township.

SWAPO is considered by most observers to be the most likely winner of U.N.-supervised elections this November, which will pave the way toward the establishment of an independent Namibia sometime next year.

Main points of the SWAPO manifesto include a commitment toward a mixed economy, a campaign to close the gap between black poverty and white wealth, strict control over some of the world’s richest fishing reserves and an anti-corruption drive.