Lahja Nashuuta

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) said their invitation to State House was to discuss the lacklustre voter registration being experienced countrywide.

This week, the Affirmative Repositioning (AR), and the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters took aim at President Nangolo Mbumba for inviting Swapo secretary general (SG) Sophia Shaningwa to a closed-door meeting with ECN’s management at State House on Monday.

The meeting caused a stir among opposition parties and observers alike, who are expressing concern over the ECN’s independence and ability to remain impartial, given Shaningwa’s presence.

“At the time of writing, we saw ECN officials and commissioners being questioned and interrogated by the secretary general of Swapo, Ms Sophia Shaningwa. 

ECN did not object, and willingly participated in this uncouth exercise,” AR leader Job Amupanda wrote to ECN chairperson Elsie Nghikembua.

He added: “We painfully saw how ECN commissioners and officials swallowed Swapo’s SG interrogation, and seemingly buckled under pressure from one participant in an election that ECN will administer and pretend to be neutral… We view this spectacle as not only corrupt and unlawful but an open demonstration that the very idea of impartiality on the part of ECN may actually be a hoax”.

As SG, Shaningwa is the highest-ranked Swapo official. 

She is, de facto, the party’s CEO. 

The Presidency, however, justified her presence, saying she was there in her capacity as a Cabinet member, while Peter Shaama, ECN electoral and referenda officer, told the media that the agenda of the meeting was to discuss matters pertaining to voter registration and voters’ apathy in general.

“ECN does not dictate who the President should invite to his meetings,” he said.

The commission further said their only concern is how best the voter registration rate in the remaining weeks of the registration period can be improved, and how best to adequately resource ECN to enable it to conduct free, fair and credible elections. 

He further said: “As an independent body, responsible for conducting free and fair elections, we understand the significance of addressing challenges related to voter turnout. It is our duty to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to find practical solutions that will enhance public participation in the election system”.

He maintained that by attending the meeting at the Office of the President, ECN demonstrated its unwavering dedication to fulfilling its constitutional mandate.

“It is through constructive engagement and cooperation with various stakeholders that we can effectively address the concerns related to our nation’s democratic fabric, such as voter turnout,” Shaama said.

Conflict

New Era reached out to political commentators to gauge their views on the brouhaha. 

Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah was one of them.

He said Shaningwa’s presence at the meeting, being a prominent member of the ruling party, does not only raise serious concerns about the ECN’s independence and impartiality, but it is also worrisome, as it can be perceived as a conflict of interest and a threat to the credibility of the upcoming elections.

“Public trust in electoral institutions is fundamental to the health of any democracy. For the ECN to maintain credibility, it must not only be independent but also be seen as independent by the public and all political stakeholders. Transparency is crucial in this regard. Meetings such as the one in question should be conducted openly, with all relevant parties given the opportunity to participate or at least be informed about the proceedings and outcomes,” Kamwanyah said.

He pointed out that when the ECN’s impartiality is compromised or called into question, it can lead to a lack of confidence in the electoral process.

This scepticism can undermine voter turnout, foster political instability and create an environment where the election results, regardless of their accuracy, are contested.

“For a credible, free, fair and transparent election, the ECN must avoid any actions that could be perceived as favouritism or undue influence from any political party, especially the ruling party,” he said.

He added that it is imperative that the ECN upholds its duty to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates. 

This can be achieved only through rigorous adherence to principles of transparency, impartiality and inclusiveness in all its dealings, especially in an election year when public scrutiny is heightened.

“The meeting with the ECN at the State House seems strange. If there is a general issue relating to the elections to be discussed, the meeting should be open and transparent, and not be limited to just one political party. Otherwise, there will be suspicions from the other parties. The ECN and State House need to clarify what this meeting was about to allay the suspicions,” said social justice activist Herbert Jauch.

He continued that ECN must prove itself, and be seen as impartial and independent.

This is crucial for credible elections, he said.

Sharing similar sentiments is Frederico Links, an associate researcher at Namibia’s Institute for Public Policy Research. 

He said “Look, we’re in electioneering season, and everything is fair game. So, while I do think that the issue has been blown out of proportion by some political parties and politicians, I think we must expect campaigning political actors to stoke or manufacture controversies on the electoral landscape to be visible, and to be seen to be vocal on electoral matters. I’m not saying that the independence, neutrality and credibility of the ECN are not a concern. It has been for a long time, and it is something we should all be monitoring. Just that this specific incident isn’t the political scandal that some are trying to make it out to be”.

-lnashuuta@gmail.com

(ECN)

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