Rebels Unveil Plan for Namibia Election

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.