UNITA is very unpopular in Namibia since it helped South Africa fight SWAPO during the liberation struggle. Elections in 1989 showed that the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance had a significant advantage in the Caprivi region over SWAPO.
UNITA's association with South Africa during the Namibian liberation struggle has made it unpopular in Namibia, as evidenced by the 1989 election results where the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance gained a significant lead over SWAPO in the Caprivi region.