Emil Appolus
Encyclopedia
Emil Appolus was a Namibia
n politician and businessperson. Living in Cape Town
, Appolus was part of early discussions on Namibian independence. In 1957, Appolus became a founding member of the Ovamboland People's Congress, the forerunner to the current ruling party, SWAPO. When the OPC merged to create SWANU
, Appolus, Sam Nujoma
and Fanuel Kozonguizi
were three of the five members of the executive committee. He authored the OPC's constitution as well as the first Black newspaper in Namibia, The South West News (Afrikaans
Die Suidwes Nuus). The South West News was later banned for nationalistic content. After involvement in the 1960-65 Congo Crisis
, Appolus ended up in Northern Rhodesia
(now Zambia
), where he was deported to Pretoria
, South Africa
for illegally leaving the country. After receiving bail, Appolus fled to Bechuanaland (now Botswana
) en route to Tanganyika
(now Tanzania
). Appolus was the first SWAPO representative in Cairo
, an important position for drawing support for national liberation. In 1969, Appolus was sent to represent SWAPO at the United Nations
.
and others, broke with SWAPO during the 1975-76 SWAPO crisis. Beginning in 1975, he led the Namibia Democratic Party
. Returning to Namibia in 1978, Appolus became an early member of SWAPO-D. From 1985-89, SWAPO-D was part of a Transitional Government of National Unity
and Appolus was a member of the National Assembly. However, the TNUG and SWAPO-D were unpopular and SWAPO-D did not earn a seat in the first national elections in Namibian history, held in 1989
.
on 28 May 2005 at the age of 70. He is buried in his home village of Vaalgras
.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n politician and businessperson. Living in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, Appolus was part of early discussions on Namibian independence. In 1957, Appolus became a founding member of the Ovamboland People's Congress, the forerunner to the current ruling party, SWAPO. When the OPC merged to create SWANU
South West African National Union
The South West Africa National Union is the oldest political party in Namibia, formed in 1959. The most of its members came from the Herero people, while fellow independence movement SWAPO was mostly an Ovambo party. The party's President is Usutuaije Maamberua.The first President of SWANU was...
, Appolus, Sam Nujoma
Sam Nujoma
Samuel Daniel Shafiishuna Nujoma is a Namibian politician who was the first President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005. He led the South-West Africa People's Organisation in its long struggle against South African rule and took office as President when Namibia obtained independence on 21 March 1990...
and Fanuel Kozonguizi
Fanuel Kozonguizi
Fanuel Jariretundu Kozonguizi was a Namibian politician, activist, lawyer and ombudsman. A leading member of the South West African National Union-Biography:...
were three of the five members of the executive committee. He authored the OPC's constitution as well as the first Black newspaper in Namibia, The South West News (Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
Die Suidwes Nuus). The South West News was later banned for nationalistic content. After involvement in the 1960-65 Congo Crisis
Congo Crisis
The Congo Crisis was a period of turmoil in the First Republic of the Congo that began with national independence from Belgium and ended with the seizing of power by Joseph Mobutu...
, Appolus ended up in Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
(now Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
), where he was deported to Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
for illegally leaving the country. After receiving bail, Appolus fled to Bechuanaland (now Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
) en route to Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
(now Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
). Appolus was the first SWAPO representative in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, an important position for drawing support for national liberation. In 1969, Appolus was sent to represent SWAPO at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Break with SWAPO
Appolus, along with Andreas ShipangaAndreas Shipanga
Andreas Zack Shipanga is a former Namibian politician. Imprisoned for two years following a fall-out with SWAPO leadership, Shipanga was arrested and held in detention in Zambia then Tanzania until 1978....
and others, broke with SWAPO during the 1975-76 SWAPO crisis. Beginning in 1975, he led the Namibia Democratic Party
Namibia Democratic Party
The Namibia Democratic Party was a political party in Namibia. The party was founded in Vaalgras, 1975. It was led by Emil Appolus. The party had its roots in the South West Africa United National Independence Organisation ....
. Returning to Namibia in 1978, Appolus became an early member of SWAPO-D. From 1985-89, SWAPO-D was part of a Transitional Government of National Unity
Transitional Government of National Unity (Namibia)
The Transitional Government of National Unity was the government of Namibia from June 1985 to February 1989. The TGNU was a puppet government of Apartheid South Africa that sought moderate reform but was unable to secure recognition by the United Nations...
and Appolus was a member of the National Assembly. However, the TNUG and SWAPO-D were unpopular and SWAPO-D did not earn a seat in the first national elections in Namibian history, held in 1989
Namibian parliamentary election, 1989
Parliamentary elections were held in Namibia between 7 and 11 November 1989. These elections were for the Constituent Assembly of Namibia, which, upon independence in March 1990, became the National Assembly of Namibia.-Background:...
.
Post-politics
Appolus retired from politics following the disbandment of SWAPO-D in 1989. He became a businessperson and at one time owned a fishing company.Death
Appolus suffered a stroke in 2004 which physically weakened him. He died in KeetmanshoopKeetmanshoop
Keetmanshoop is a city in Karas Region, southern Namibia, lying on the Trans-Namib Railway from Windhoek to Upington in South Africa. It is named after Johann Keetman, a German industrialist and founder of the city....
on 28 May 2005 at the age of 70. He is buried in his home village of Vaalgras
Vaalgras
Vaalgras is a village in Namibia's Karas Region. Located 60km northeast of Keetmanshoop, the village is also home of the Vaalgras Traditional Authority. It is home to a community of the Oorlam people, a group descends from the OvaHerero, Nama and other groups....
.