Lahja Nashuuta

As Namibia prepares for Regional and Local Authorities Elections on 29 November 2025, the ECN confirmed it will adhere to the 2014 boundaries.

The commission stressed that it is legally bound to operate under the current framework until the official report is gazetted.

ECN spokesperson Siluka De Wet confirmed the decision in an interview with New Era. “We will work with 14 regions and 121 constituencies as per the 2014 Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation report,” he said. “Until the new report is gazetted, the commission is bound by the current legal framework,” De Wet confirmed.

The Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission submitted its final report to former President Nangolo Mbumba last year.

As per Section 5 of the Regional Councils Act and Article 102 of the Namibian Constitution, the commission was tasked with reviewing Namibia’s regions and constituencies and determining the boundaries of the regions for the purposes of holding Local Authorities and Regional Council elections. Upon completion, the commission proposed seven regional adjustments, the creation of 10 new constituencies, and 61 constituency boundary changes. These recommendations, if implemented, would significantly alter Namibia’s electoral map.

When receiving the report, former President Mbumba underscored the importance of the exercise. “The work of the commission will greatly assist the ECN in registering eligible voters in the correct regions and constituencies,” he said, cautioning that, “This is not a task that must be taken lightly, as the foundations of our democracy must be reinforced by accurate, reliable and relevant information.”

Despite these proposals, the ECN has made it clear that it cannot act until the legal process is complete. “The gazetting of the report is what gives effect to the changes,” De Wet explained. “Without that, we must continue to operate with the 2014 boundaries,” he maintained.

According to the commission, out of 1,670,813 eligible voters, nearly 1.5 million Namibians have already registered to vote before 4 August. This includes 53,802 new applications, 43,610 amendments and 12,521 duplicate registrations. However, the registration exercise revealed notable variations across the country. De Wet emphasised the importance of certainty and transparency. “Our mandate is to conduct free, fair and credible elections. Whether under old boundaries or new ones, the trust of the Namibian people is what matters most,” he maintained.

– lnashuuta@nepc.com.na