It seems many Namibians who are politically-inclined have come to read, understand and implement Article 17 of the Namibian Constitution to the letter. The Article guarantees political freedom, and the right to form and join political parties at will, provided it is done peacefully. The understanding of Article 17 is confirmed by the number of...
Loide Jason Lahja Nashuuta As the national elections approach, the political atmosphere in Namibia is increasingly fraught with discord as political parties continue their protest against the electoral process in the weeks preceding the vote. This situation arises from serious accusations that the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) granted the ballot printing contract to South...
Lahja Nashuuta The South West Africa National Union (Swanu) secretary general Ngaijake Sam Tjikuzu has requested the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to reject a parliamentary list submitted by party member Issaskar Tjihoreko. The Swanu faction, under the leadership of Evilastus Kaaronda, submitted its final list to the electoral commission last week. This list prominently...
MARIENTAL – As tensions rise ahead of Namibia’s upcoming elections, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani has voiced concern about its credibility during a rally in Mariental on Sunday. He criticised the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) for awarding a controversial ballot printing tender to South African company Ren-Form CC. He stated “What we...
The Affirmative Repositioning political party launched its ambitious plan in Katima Mulilo over the weekend “to rescue Namibia from collapse”. Dubbed ‘AR Plan for Namibia’, the manifesto lays out their vision to liberate the country from the chains of hardship, should the electorate give them the mandate to govern on 27 November. “Namibia is a...
Rudolf Gaiseb The commotion in which the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) finds itself and which has brought its credibility into question, is self-created. This is the view of disgruntled opposition political parties and commentators. The ECN has courted controversy lately, and is under fire over awarding South African firm Ren-Form CC a contract to...
Andreas Thomas Swapo Party Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa said the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)’s confirmation of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the party’s presidential candidate is a significant milestone for Namibia. The ECN declared 15 presidential candidates as duly- nominated for the upcoming general elections on Thursday, including Nandi-Ndaitwah as the only female candidate. Speaking during...
As the campaign period reached the stage where political parties eagerly show off the size of their following and the conquests from opponents, many aspiring and established politicians have been switching to parties they were once diametrically opposed to. A particularly large number of high-profile party-hoppers has been observed during this campaign. This week, forex...
Lahja Nashuuta This year’s presidential election will not feature independent presidential candidates. This is after the four individuals who wanted to gun for the highest office in the land solo failed to meet all requirements as prescribed by the Electoral Act. “They made it almost impossible for us to meet what was the legal requirement,...
Rudolf Gaiseb The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has rejected the applications of three independent presidential candidates Ally Angula, Jeremiah Kaambo and Elsie Chen. The announcement was made at the commission’s public sitting yesterday at its headquarters. They extended the sitting until today, giving the candidates time to correct their mistakess. The extension will also...