WINDHOEK – More than 1.2 million voters will in less than two weeks decide the electoral fortunes of 1 139 candidates contesting the 96 seats on offer in the National Assembly.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has made public that the official number of registered voters for the upcoming presidential and National Assembly elections is 1 241 194.
During the 2009 elections there were 1 161 383 registered voters, meaning that 79 811 more voters have registered for this year’s contest.
Of the 16 political parties contesting this year’s National Assembly elections only two parties – Swapo and UDF – managed to submit a complete list of 96 candidates.
The Christian Democratic Voice, United People’s Movement and the Workers Revolutionary Party submitted lists with the least candidates – 32, 23 and 36 respectively.
Some parties refused to submit 96 names in protest against the recent constitutional amendments, which increased the National Assembly seats from 78 to 104.
Figures provided by the ECN indicate that the APP list has 62 candidates, DTA of Namibia (95), Congress of Democrats (93), Democratic Party of Namibia (64), Monitor Action Group (62), NEFF (69), National Democratic Party (58), Nudo (43), RDP (94), RP (63), Swanu (95), Swapo (96) and UDF (96).
Of the 1 139 candidates, 623 are male while 516 are female.
With the ruling party aiming for a big sweep – with party leaders on record eyeing at least 80 seats – main contenders such as DTA and RDP are seen as the two parties that could derail Swapo’s ambitious mission.
The electorate will have nine options in the presidential elections to decide who replaces incumbent Head of State, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who is to vacate State House in March next year.
The nine are Dr Hage Geingob (Swapo), Ignatius Shixwameni (APP), Ben Ulenga (CoD), Epafras Mukwiilongo (Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters), Hidipo Hamuntenya (RDP), Henk Mudge (RP), Asser Mbai (Nudo), Usutuaije Maamberua (Swanu) and DTA of Namibia’s McHenry Venaani.
Losing presidential candidates risk forfeiting the N$20 000 they had to pay to be eligible to contest the presidential elections if they fail to acquire 5 percent of the total votes.
Geingob is touted by many to will have it easy considering the ruling party’s overwhelming support across the country.
Many do not foresee a Geingob loss, but those in political circles are keen to see whether Geingob will be able to set a new record in terms of votes received by a Swapo presidential candidate.
Currently, former president Dr Sam Nujoma remains the country’s most popular president after his 1999 electoral win wherein he scored 76.82 percent of the votes.
Of the 545 645 votes cast that year, 414 096 were in favour of the leader of the country’s liberation struggle.
During the 1994 elections, Nujoma scored 76.34 percent when he managed to get 370 452 of the 497 508 votes cast.
Pohamba scored 76.44 percent in the 2004 election, after receiving 625 605 of the total 818 630 votes cast. In the 2009 election, he scored 75.25 percent of the votes after receiving 611 241 of the 812 223 votes cast.