2013-08-28Mathias Haufiku RUNDU – Outgoing director of the Electoral Commission of Namibia Moses Ndjarakana says he holds no grudges for not being re-appointed and would accordingly vacate his office for the newly appointed director who starts work at the ECN headquarters in Windhoek next Monday. Ndjarakana instead expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the nation as the director of elections since 2008. He was nevertheless tight-lipped on his future plans, saying it is a personal matter. The new director of elections is Dr Paul Isaak. “I am thankful that I got a chance to serve the nation. As result, I gained experience hence I appreciate the opportunity that was given to me. I am looking forward to other ventures, whether private or public,” said Ndjarakana. “My plans are private, they are not for public consumption. What I do is private and personal.” Voter apathy was one of the challenges that haunted the country’s electoral arena during Ndjarakana’s tenure as head of the ECN. He however refused to comment on the subject, saying: “I do not wish to comment on ECN issues because it will be out of place, there are people in the office who can answer to that.” On his achievements though, Ndjarakana singled out the introduction of electoral technology facilities and equipment at the electoral body as one of his key achievements during his tenure. “Electoral technology has been introduced, be it registration kits, electronic voting machines or information technology-related which will surely enhance the electoral process and at the same time make it more transparent and efficient,” he said. “The systems are in place, I know the colleagues will do it because they are a professional team who will assist the incoming director. A commission is in place for the procurement of and training on electoral technology,” he said. Ndjarakana stressed that systems are definitely in place for next year’s elections, adding that there will be no interference from outside the ECN structures. “I am available for the nation where it needs me but for now I remain a private citizen handling my private issues,” said Ndjarakana. Ndjarakana came under heavy scrutiny after the 2009 national elections that the opposition parties claim were rigged, and whose National Assembly results they contested in the High Court seeking their nullification. Initially the leading opposition party Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) declined to take up its seats in the National Assembly in protest of the election results. In October last year, the Supreme Court Chief Justice Peter Shivute ruled that administrative errors highlighted by the opposition parties as reason to nullify the election results did not influence the final results of the elections. “The various administrative mistakes committed by Election Commission of Namibia officials and polling officers were not so serious. Therefore, the results and outcome of the November 2009 National Assembly elections were not affected at all by these administrative mistakes,” Justice Shivute said when delivering the final verdict in the Supreme Court at the time. By Mathias Haufiku 2013-08-28Mathias Haufiku
