History

It was formed in March 1989 at the initiative of Moses Katjioungua as an alliance of the Action National Settlement, South West African National Union

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...

 and Caprivi African National Union political parties.

Katjioungua was elected to the Constituent Assembly of Namibia, the 1st National Assembly of Namibia and the 2nd National Assembly of Namibia.

The early party leaders included ANS leader Eben van Zijl

Eben van Zijl

Ebenezer van Zijl was a White Namibian politician and lawyer in South West Africa, the forerunner to modern Namibia....

 and CANU leader Siseho Simasiku.