Rudolf Gaiseb
The Popular Democratic Movement, led by McHenry Venaani, protested and demanded on Tuesday that the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) revoke the awarding of the ballot printing tender awarded to South African company, Ren-Form CC.
The party marched from the UN Plaza in Katutura to the ECN’s head office in Windhoek North to make their demands known.
They also handed over a petition.
“On 17 October 2024, the Electoral Commission of Namibia announced the completion of the procurement process for ballot papers for the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly elections. In an astonishing and frankly infuriating move, the ECN selected Ren-Form CC, a company tainted by serious allegations of corruption during the 2023 general election in Zimbabwe. Currently under investigation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission for money-laundering and abuse of office, Ren-Form and its associate, the politically-connected Wicknell Chivayo, stand accused of shamelessly inflating tender prices. The company invoiced R23 million for a server worth just R90 000 – a grotesque 235% markup, further exposing the rampant corruption and state capture suffocating Zimbabwe’s procurement systems.
“Yet, despite these glaring red flags and ongoing investigations, the ECN has recklessly chosen this same corrupt entity to handle election materials for Namibia’s most important democratic process in 2024. The ECN’s failure to conduct even the most basic due diligence before awarding such a critical contract is a clear demonstration of its irresponsible and deeply-flawed decision-making.
This level of negligence is not only an insult to public trust, but also reveals an alarming disregard for the integrity of Namibia’s electoral process,” Venaani underlined. He then called for an immediate termination of Ren-Form CC’s contract, stating the involvement of a company under active investigation for corruption and over-inflated tenders in another country is a direct threat to the integrity and transparency of Namibia’s electoral process.
“To restore public trust, the ECN must immediately retract this contract and seek a reputable, untainted supplier. An independent investigation must be launched into how the ECN awarded a contract to Ren-Form CC, given the public and ongoing corruption investigations against them. This inquiry must identify any irregularities or negligence in the procurement process, and hold accountable those responsible for this gross oversight,” he maintained.
He suggested that the ECN enforce rigorous due diligence checks and anti-corruption safeguards in all future procurement processes. This includes establishing a transparent vetting system which disqualifies any entity with a history of corrupt practices or unresolved investigations from being awarded any contracts related to democratic processes.
Similarly, PDM Member of Parliament Maximalliant Katjimune described the electoral process as a very important component of the democratic dispensation.
“The company that is awarded such a tender must be one that is beyond reproach; that is not under investigation for corruption in another country for having exercised anomalies in the same electoral process that we want it to run in Namibia. So, the ECN must revisit this tender, rescind it, and award it to a competent company that meets all ethical standards,” he said.
Christians
Among the three political parties which did not depart to observe the ballot printing process in South Africa is the Christian Democratic Voice (CDV).
Speaking to New Era upon enquiry, party leader Gothard Kandume indicated that the reason the party did not depart was because the ECN failed to communicate to them regarding the departure and observation of the printing process, and not because they objected to the ECN’s decision to award the ballot printing tender to Ren-Form CC.
“Our absence must not be seen as a rejection of the ECN’s decision to offer a ballot paper tender to Ren-Form CC. No, we have many things on which we are focusing, which are very important for us. We have been taken out of the democracy process for almost seven months, and we are busy fixing things,” he stressed. He added that ever since their
deregistration by the ECN and re-registration recently to contest in the upcoming
elections, the commission has failed to communicate appropriately with the CDV.
New Era tried to reach the ECN’s spokesperson De Wet Siluka to respond to the allegations, but he could not be reached.
Lawsuit
Kandume yesterday told this publication that they will sue the ECN for the damages the party suffered over the period they were deregistered.
“The ECN took my party illegally and unlawfully out of Parliament, and also out of the public view and eyes for seven months. They have caused damage; the party has suffered, including my family. That is why I make a heavy lawsuit against the ECN,” he stated.
RP
The Republican Party (RP) dismissed speculation that their withdrawal from travelling to South Africa with the ECN’s delegation was due to financial constraints, saying the ECN is covering all expenses for one delegate from each political party to observe the ballot printing process.
“It’s not about money. We refuse to be involved in any corrupt practice, regardless of whether we stay in five-star hotels paid for by the ECN or not. We have made contact with other opposition leaders, and agreed that we will support any legal action to challenge these developments,” said RP leader Henk Mudge.