Chief Electoral Officer of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) Peter Shaama has warned that political parties found campaigning after the campaign cut-off date will face criminal charges, or be de-registered.

While addressing a media briefing in the capital on Monday evening, he said the Presidential and National Assembly elections’ official campaign period for political parties ended at midnight on Tuesday, 26 November 2024.

“This is in accordance with Clause 7 of the code of conduct, which provides that “a political party or organisation or candidate may not, from midnight, 24 hours before polling day in any election or referendum, until polling stations are closed on the day, convene or hold a public gathering of any kind, publish, or cause or permit the publication of, any advertisement,” he remarked. 

He expressed gratitude to political parties for holding “a generally-peaceful and issue-based campaign”. 

He said this period has shown that Namibia’s democracy is growing and maturing. 

Shaama commended supporters of all political parties for exercising restraint and maturity, as well as adhering to the code of conduct for political parties and organisations.

Namibians went to the polls yesterday. 

-Nampa