Lahja Nashuuta

As elections beckon, various political parties have deployed measures to ensure their members adhere to the Electoral Code of Conduct, thereby ensuring peaceful elections.

The parties have also condemned mudslinging and other dirty campaign tactics by political adversaries that have become a regular feature in the local political theatre. 

This week, Landless People’s Movement (LPM) spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa said they have integrated the code of conduct into their civic education kit to ensure that members are well-informed. This is to curb election intimidation and violence.

He noted that the LPM has trained its leaders across the country to maintain order.

“Additionally, volunteers are trained and informed of how they should conduct themselves and de-escalate situations, or completely avoid altercations,” Simataa said.

Meanwhile, the ruling party has been using their election campaign to caution members to respect the rule of law, and to refrain from violence or using inflammatory language while canvassing for votes.

Swapo Party Youth League secretary Ephraim Nekongo confirmed that there was indeed maturity on “the side of our supporters throughout the campaign, and our members have been adhering to the election set rules.” He said Swapo has advocated respect for the rule of law, and the election code of conduct has been a pillar of their campaign.

“Our message has been clear, which is ‘vote for Swapo, for Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Throughout our campaign,

we have not received any reports of our members and supporters intimidating or clashing with other political parties,” Nekongo said.

He added that while their campaign has been peaceful, there has been political intimidation and violence in election campaigns by opposition parties, especially the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC).

“Instead of focusing on their campaign and selling their manifesto and candidates, the IPC has been facilitating and spreading propaganda through social media against the Swapo Party and its presidential candidate. Throughout their campaign, they have been using hate speech, insults and posting false claims against Swapo,” he charged.

Meanwhile, the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), the IPC and the United People’s Movement (UPM) have likewise cautioned their members and sympathisers to refrain from campaign misconduct and intimidation.

“What we are seeing with the code of conduct is this misinformation campaign t
hat is around – people deliberately making social media misinformation. It is bad for the good conduct of elections, so parties must refrain from it. But generally, we respect the code of conduct, and our members must comply with its dictates,” PDM leader McHenry Venaani said.

Bringing the patriots’ voice to the discourse was spokesperson Immanuel Nashinge, who said, “Our move is to make sure our position is to deal with anyone within the IPC who is exhibiting attitudes towards other political leaders.” On his part, UPM’s Jan van Wyk said he does not condone political violence in any form. “We remain in close contact with leaders on the ground, and have not encountered any acts of violence at this stage,” the politician stated.

Incidents 

Reflecting on some incidents, the LPM said they have suffered from alleged political intolerance.

“The first being a Swapo Rehoboth councillor, who was campaigning with torn LPM membership cards and recording it. The second incident was that of Swapo members intimidating individuals on the outskirts of Tsumeb, and taking their voters’ cards from them so that they could pretend on social media that they are recruiting LPM members,” Simataa claimed.

He further alleged that in Oranjemund, a Swapo member drove into the LPM convoy to disrupt a public engagement. 

“There was a Swapo convoy leader who began to instigate and antagonise an LPM team which was putting up flags, and hurling insults and antagonising our members, which then led to an altercation, but was quickly resolved,” Simataa said.

Furthermore, Swapo and LPM members clashed in the Hardap region, where the two parties were conducting campaigns during the same weekend. A video of suspected LPM members or supporters shown removing Swapo flags and replacing them with LPM flags went viral on social media recently.

At the time, the LPM distanced itself from the act, maintaining the individuals in the video were not members of that party.

“We are a party of order, and it is our responsibility to abide by the law,” LPM youth leader Duminga Ndala was quoted as saying.

Also, Nashinge confirmed intimidation incidents during their election campaigns.

“As political parties, the issue of intimidation, especially from the ruling party, happens daily all over the country. But because our party is guided by the rule of law, we have educated our members and followers to ignore unnecessary provocations and the like,” he continued.

Political tolerance

Additionally, Venaani acknowledged the significance of having the electoral code of conduct in place ahead of elections.

He said his party had not encountered serious intimidation throughout the electoral process, except for minor issues in the northern parts of the country.

“Our posters are being taken down,” he addressed.

He further gave an example of his encounter at Helao Nafidi town.

“Helao Nafidi people claim that all the poles [for flags] are already paid for by Swapo, something that is very irregular, and does not conform to the code of conduct for real political participation,” he said.

Peace

By signing the code, political parties agreed not to use violence, threaten violence, or incite or encourage the use of violence against anyone on account of his or her political opinions, membership in or support of a political party, political organisation or candidate, or participation in the election.

Furthermore, the code of conduct prohibits political parties and their candidates and members from propagating, publishing, circulating in public or through other means of communication or publication, including social media platforms, false or defamatory allegations, or any other baseless or inflammatory allegations about another political party, political organisation or its candidates, members or supporters.

Speaking at the signing of the electoral code of conduct, Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson Elsie Nghikembua urged political parties to foster an environment where free and fair elections can take place. 

“Of late, the commission has observed deliberate acts of misinformation and allegations made to tarnish our image and spark distrust. 

It is not only detrimental to our electoral democracy, but also to our beautiful country. We should all join hands here to stop the spread of fake news and disinformation,” she urged.

-lnashuuta@gmail.com