Eba Kandovazu

Various political parties said they felt blindsided after they were listed as respondents in the matter that is before the courts.

The parties had said they were supporting the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC)’s challenge to have last year’s Presidential and National Assembly elections nullified.

The challenge seeks to nullify the election outcome and enforce a re-run after Namibians went to the polls on 27 November 2024. 

Elections were extended to 29 November by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), following alleged irregularities such as insufficient ballot papers at polling stations.

The President of Namibia Nangolo Mbumba as well as ECN and its chief electoral and referenda officer Petrus Shaama are cited as respondents. 

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Republican Party president Henk Mudge said although the party and its members were surprised to be listed as respondents, the party is rallying behind the IPC challenge.

“I thought we would have another meeting to clear that up, but that did not happen. So, when we saw the court papers and that we were now defendants in this case, along with Swapo, that obviously confused our members completely. 

“I have mentioned to Dr Panduleni Itula at some stage that how this whole thing is dealt with by the IPC was worrying for me – that we are not the IPC’s subordinates, and that we are equals when it comes to this,” Mudge said.

He added that he, however, fully supports the court challenge.

He stated that he was surprised that his party received only one parliamentary seat in the National Assembly elections. The party registered over 40 000 new members last year.

“We expected between five and six seats, but then we got one,” Mudge said.

Other political parties rallying behind the IPC include the Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters, the Rally for Democracy and Progress, as well as the All People’s Party.

-Nampa