A Namibian politician named Adolf Hitler Uunona has won a sweeping victory in local elections, but insists he has no plans for world domination. Uunona, who was elected as councillor for the Ompundja constituency, told German newspaper Bild that he has 'nothing to do' with Nazi ideology.
Adolf, like other Germanic first names, is not uncommon in Namibia, which was once a German colony. Uunona admitted that his father named him after the Nazi leader, but said 'he probably didn't understand what Adolf Hitler stood for'. He added: 'As a child I saw it as a totally normal name. It wasn't until I was growing up that I realised: This man wanted to subjugate the whole world.'
Uunona, who won his seat with 85% of the vote, said his wife calls him Adolf and he goes by the name in public, with no plans to change it. He was elected for the ruling Swapo party, which led the campaign against colonial and white-minority rule.
Namibia was part of German territory called German South West Africa from 1884 to 1915. The German Empire killed thousands during a 1904-08 revolt, in what some historians call 'the forgotten genocide'. Earlier this year, Namibia turned down a €10m reparations offer from Germany.
Swapo has ruled Namibia since independence in 1990, but support has fallen following bribery allegations. In last month's elections, Swapo lost control of 30 major towns and cities.
