WINDHOEK – Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) Secretary for Information and Publicity Jeremia Nambinga has raised concern about the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) without provision of a paper trail.
In a press statement issued yesterday, Nambinga said the official opposition party would not be an accomplice in deceiving the nation by supporting the usage of EVMs if there is no provision of a paper trail during the presidential and National Assembly elections in November.
He said a paper trail would be a verifiable printout evidence that satisfies the voter before he/she leaves the polling station that his/her vote was properly recorded and allocated to the party or candidate of the voter’s choice.
“We already had our concerns during the recently concluded regional elections in Ohangwena Region where the same machines were used without a paper trail,” he said.
He called on President Hifikepunye Pohamba to ensure that democracy prevails at all times and at whatever cost in Namibia, which should not be allowed to be sabotaged by the Indian-made machines.
Recently, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) said it would not make a U-turn on the usage of EVMs in this year’s elections.
Nambinga says for any election to be credible it must be transparent.
“Transparency in this case of voting can only be guaranteed if there is a reflection of how the voters’ votes are recorded,” he added.
He said if the machines are used without a paper trail democracy would be compromised because there “are absolutely no checks and balances”.
He also noted that the issue must not be left in the hands of a minister because democracy is far bigger than any minister and the country cannot afford to have democracy suffocated by one person or group of individuals.