Rudolf Gaiseb

The Affirmative Repositioning movement yesterday submitted its leader Job Amupanda’s name to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) for contesting the presidential election slated for 27 November.

The deadline for submission of presidential candidates’ names to the ECN is 16 October 2024.

At 37, Amupanda is officially the youngest presidential candidate so far.

The ruling party Swapo has already submitted Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s name as its presidential candidate.

New Era earlier reported that the ECN had accepted her candidature. However, the commission pointed out that it was not an approval, but just a submission.

Approval or rejection of all presidential candidates will be communicated at a later stage.

Reacting to the submission yesterday, Amupanda said being the youngest candidate is inspiring to the youth.

However, he hastened to say there is more to his candidature beyond age.  

“I am used to changing the paths of history
in our country. The ballot will be different, with the red star, as Namibians now really have a choice between candidates of the past and the future. Candidates of competence, and those of gender. Candidates of foreigners, and candidates rooted in our people. Candidates of suits and blue socks, and revolutionaries. Our people are demoralised, discouraged, thirsty, needing water, needing jobs. Our education system is in shambles, and our economy in the hands of Chinese and Europeans,” Amupanda stated.

 “I represent an authentic and original vision of Namibia and its people to change these things. Tears of Namibians really need to be wiped”, he added.

Deadline 

The ECN recently announced the deadline for political parties to submit their parliamentary candidate lists.

This weekend, the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) will hold their electoral colleges to choose prospective candidates for the National Assembly elections.

“A registered political party which intends to take part in the election for a member of the National Assembly must submit a list of candidates in writing at any time after the publication of the proclamation, which was on 26 September, but must do that before 11h00 on the due date,” the commission indicated in notices released last week.

Requirements

To become a presidential candidate and be eligible to be elected as a member of the National Assembly, the candidate must be a Namibian citizen over the age of 35 years.

The candidates are expected to be registered voters, and must be nominated, either as a representative of a registered political party or as an independent candidate, whose nomination is supported by at least 500 registered voters per region, for a minimum of 7 000 supporters countrywide.

If it is a candidate nominated by a political party, the nomination is made on Form 17, duly signed by the authorised representative of the party or any other office-bearer of the political party, authorised thereto in writing by the authorised representative, and stamped with the seal of the party.

If it is an independent candidate, their nomination is made on Form 17, but duly signed by any two persons whose names appear on the list of supporters.

The candidate should consent to the nomination by any instrument in writing.

If it is a nomination by a political party, the nomination must be accompanied by a copy of the registration certificate of the political party, and certified as such by a justice of the peace, or a commissioner of oaths.

The ECN also requires a receipt confirming that an amount of N$20 000 has been deposited with the State Revenue Fund (SRF) by or on behalf of the contesting political party.

But if it is a nomination by an independent candidate, the nomination should be accompanied by a receipt showing that
N$10 000 has been deposited with the SRF by or on behalf of the candidate.

Equally important, a registered political party which intends to take part in the National Assembly election must submit its list of candidates in writing at any time after the publication of the proclamation (26 September 2024), but not later than 11h00 on 16 October 2024.

The commission states: “The list must contain at least 32 but not more than 96 candidates with a view to the filling of seats in the National Assembly. The names on a list of candidates must appear in the order as the registered political party may determine, and the voter registration number of each candidate must be stated on the list after their name.”

If a candidate appears on more than one list, the name will be removed from all the lists. A copy of the list will be displayed at ECN headquarters, and at offices of the regional electoral officers.

Names of political parties must appear in alphabetical order, setting out the lists of candidates of each political party as drawn up by the political parties. The persons whose names appear on the lists must be duly nominated as candidates for the political party.

Parties 

In a recent New Era report on how political parties choose candidates to represent a party in the National Assembly, the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) said they hold an electoral college attended by representatives from constituencies, branches and districts across the country.

“They bring forward the names of individuals they wish to see in Parliament,” PDM secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe said.

The AR, which will be participating in the National Assembly elections for the first time, are yet to draw up their parliamentary list. 

“Those electoral college discussions can create divisions within parties. For now, our focus is on direct engagement through door-to-door campaigning. We will only consider holding such an electoral college a few days before the elections,” Amupanda said in an earlier interview.

The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) is expected to hold its electoral college during the weekend, just before the due date.

“The preparations are going well. We have nominations from across all regions, where the nominees are voted in by constituencies. We have a team that will be finalising these names by the end of this week. They held electoral congresses where they selected 120 or 140 names. And then at the convention, which is in two weeks, we will trim down these names to reach the quota,” LPM spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa said yesterday.  The party currently holds four seats in the National Assembly.

On the other hand, one National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) faction under the leadership of Utjiua Muinjangue will hold an elective congress this weekend.

Another, led by former Namibia Football Association secretary general Barry Rukoro, has already identified prospective members of parliament.

It remains to be seen which faction is legitimate.  Rally for Democracy and Progress president Mike Kavekotora released his party’s parliamentary list on 9 September 2024. -rrgaiseb@gmail.com