WINDHOEK – The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) yesterday announced the appointment of Dr Paul John Isaak, a lecturer at the University of Namibia, as the director of the ECN effective September 01, replacing Moses Ndjarakana whose tenure expired in July.
The announcement was made at the ECN headquarters. Dr Isaak obtained his PhD in the United States. He lectures in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in philosophy and is the coordinator of the Social Commentary Issues class, a mandatory class for all first-year students. The search for a new director commenced after the incumbent director Moses Ndjarakana’s term of office ended in July following a five-year stint at the helm of the ECN.
Media reports indicated that Ndjarakana was also among the five short-listed candidates, but it is not known whether he lost out based on objections to his candidacy by some opposition parties, which made it clear that they no longer trusted him based on the last National Assembly elections, which ended in a protracted court challenge. Early in 2010, the ECN had also suspended Ndjarakana over an ‘administrative matter’ for a very brief period following which he was reinstated.
The ECN consists of a chairperson and four commissioners, appointed by the president from a shortlist compiled by a selection committee, which consists of a judge nominated by the Chief Justice, a lawyer nominated by the Law Society of Namibia and a nominee of the Ombudsman. Members of the ECN may lose their positions for incapacity or may be removed by the president for misconduct, with the approval of parliament.
By Tunomukwathi Asino