SWAKOPMUND – Popular Democratic Movement secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe has called on the Electoral Commission of Namibia to remain impartial and improve election management ahead of the 2025 polls.
He made the remarks while opening a seven-day capacity-building workshop for PDM regional coordinators and local authority councillors in Swakopmund. The workshop, facilitated by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), aims to strengthen democracy, enhance leadership capacity and improve political coordination within the party.
Addressing the recent ruling on the 2024 general elections, Ngaringombe cautioned the ECN against complacency, following the court’s dismissal of a legal challenge by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM).
The opposition parties had challenged the legality of the voting extension from 27 to 30 November, but the court ruled in favour of the ECN.
“I call upon the ECN not to view this ruling as a victory on their part, and start to relax or neglect their duties. ECN and its commissioners must pull up their socks and improve the electoral management and administration of our elections. If you are trusted by the Namibian people to be the custodians of our democratic process, then act accordingly,” he said.
He noted that, any form of election mismanagement or manipulation could destabilise the country’s political landscape.
He then urged ECN to be fair and unbiased, and “leave politics to the politicians and focus on their work”.
Reflecting on PDM’s performance in the last election, Ngaringombe acknowledged that the party had lost ground, dropping from the second-largest party in the National Assembly to the fourth, with its representation shrinking from 16 to five seats.
“Colleagues, we have a challenge. While we acknowledge external factors, we must also conduct self-introspection to move forward stronger from our current position. Let’s not deceive ourselves. Let’s conduct a genuine self-introspection and find ways to improve to save our democracy and prevent the deterioration of governance under the ruling party,” he said.
-edeklerk@nepc.com.na