Turnhalle Constitutional Conference - Results

Results

The conference produced a 29-page document entitled "Petition for the establishment of an interim government". The petition, which has been said to have been produced under great time pressure, contains a request to set up an interim government for the territory of South-West Africa / Namibia, as well as a draft constitution for "a republican, democratic state".

All three of these qualifiers have been questioned: The Turnhalle Constitution did not mandate any elections or other popular representation, something that would commonly be regarded a crucial component of both a democracy and a republic. It furthermore made no provisions for independent judiciary or executive and relied on the government of South Africa as superior authority. It is thus questionable in what way the interim constitution defined a state.

Although the Turnhalle Constitution provided for multi–racial participation in the interim government it entrenched the racial segregation of Namibia's population. Albeit indirectly, the economic and political power of the white population was reinforced. The constitution recognised some fundamental rights but did not provide for significant protection of even the most basic of them. Despite severe criticism from black and white population groups as well as the international community, black delegates welcomed the start of institutionalised communication between the entrenched parties.

The draft constitution (also called Turnhalle Plan) was approved in a Whites-only referendum in 1977. Following pressure from the United Nations Security Council, it was never enacted.