Political parties challenge ECN’s controversial ballot-printing tender award to corruption-linked Ren-Form 

At least four political parties have lodged complaints at the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) about its decision to award a company under investigation for election corruption in Zimbabwe a ballot-printing tender.

The ECN, chaired by Elsie Nghikembua, awarded a N$6.2-million tender to Ren-Form, a South African (SA) company linked to controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo.

Chivayo, who has links with Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa, allegedly visited Namibia a few months ago for ‘businesses’.

One Namibian opposition party is accusing Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party of meddling in Namibia’s elections.

Zanu-PF leaders have also been accused of interfering in elections in Botswana, Malawi and Mozambique.

Political parties and analysts have called on president Nangolo Mbumba to act on the matter.

One such call came from Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani.

“I am calling on Mbumba’s conscience. President Mbumba, with all due respect, why are you quiet? Where is the moral leadership I spoke to you about?” he asked last week.

Venaani said the president has become comfortable with everything linked to corruption.

“Why do you want to hand over power to any person where the election process will be marked by allegations of maladministration?” he asked.

Mbumba, through his spokesperson, last week said any party unhappy with the ECN decision could file an appeal against this.

Presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari yesterday said the president cannot interfere with the ECN’s decision.

“Namibia is governed in accordance with the Constitution. President Mbumba is also clear that the Electoral Act provides for the independence of the Electoral Commission, and the president cannot interfere in the awarding of tenders for the printing of ballot papers,” he said.

He said dissatisfied parties has recourse through state institutions.

“In fact, the Electoral Acts makes provision for appeal of the decisions of the commission,” he said.

Hengari said Venaani should know the president upholds the rule of law.

‘PROBLEMATIC’

Political analyst Joseph Diescho says the commission is becoming increasingly “problematic and untrustworthy”.

“Too much controversy makes the outcome of elections questionable. In better democratic systems, the ECN would have been reconstituted after the blunders in recent months. Hence, the call for the president of the country to provide moral leadership,” he says.

Diescho says the president is a decent man who hates controversy.

“He is not known to defend the rule of law when inconvenient, even when he could do something about it,” he says.

Meanwhile, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) says the hand-picking of the firm is the result of the ECN’s refusal to follow standard procurement procedures.

“The IPC hereby demands full, public disclosure of all documents relating to the procurement of Ren-Form and implores the Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia and the media to conduct investigations . . . “ IPC spokesperson Imms Nashinge says.

SWAPO AND ZANU-PF

Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) deputy president Kalimbo Iipumbu has asked for the immediate cancellation of the Ren-Form tender.

“The tender must be revoked and a transparent public bidding process should be reinstated,” he says.

Iipumbu has also demanded that the elections are postponed.

“The NEFF cannot ignore the secretive meetings between senior Swapo officials and the Zanu-PF leadership, raising the alarm over possible underhanded deals and coordinated efforts to manipulate Namibia’s electoral process,” he says.

Swapo deputy secretary general Uahekua Herunga says the party has distanced itself from the ECN’s decision.

“We have decided not to meddle in the affairs of the ECN, because … we will be accused of influencing this and that ..,” he says.
However, Herunga questions why the tender was awarded to a South African company.

“What credibility do we have if they are marred with allegations of corruption?” he asks.

Swapo leaders, such as secretary general Sophia Shaningwa, met with Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa in August.

Recently, images of senior Swapo member Utoni Nujoma together with Mnangagwa circulated on the internet.
“I’m not aware of any mission assigned by the party. He might have gone in his private capacity,” Herunga said last week.

‘RAPING DEMOCRACY’

Rally for Democracy and Progress president Mike Kavekotora says the ECN is attempting to “rape” Namibia’s democracy by opting to make use of Ren-Form.

“This is something that needs to be challenged in a court of law,” he says.

Meanwhile, former ambassador Tuliameni Kalomoh says the controversy was avoidable.

“And it’s not too late yet. The ECN should change course immediately and protect the integrity of the electoral process,” he says.

International relations expert Pius Dunaiski says Namibia’s position of upholding democratic principles is currently compromised.

“It will do us a lot of damage, particularly at a time where we just came back from New York and the Summit of the Future,” he says.

ECN RESPONDS

On Friday, ECN chief executive Peter Shaama said the decision to award the contract to Ren-Form CC was made following a thorough and rigorous evaluation process that adhered to procurement laws.

He said Ren-Form boasts a solid track record of having printing ballot papers for over 70 elections on the continent in the past 20 years.

He said the commission will not tolerate baseless accusations.

“We wish to categorically state that there is no evidence whatsoever to substantiate any claims of corruption or misconduct in this process.

“Should any party or individual possess concrete evidence of wrongdoing, we challenge them to present it through the appropriate channels,” Shaama said.

DELEGATION

The commission yesterday announced on social media that a delegation comprising 18 political parties contesting in the elections has departed for South Africa.

“The delegation will observe the design, layout, production, printing, packaging, and delivery of ballot papers,” the ECN said.

The delegation is expected to return on 29 October.

Of the 18 political parties, the Christian Democratic Voice, the Republican Party, and the PDM have withdrawn.

Earlier this year, South Africa’s Daily Maverick reported that Ren-Form and its agent, Wicknell Chiyavo, are being investigated by Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption authority for inflating the prices of election-related material and equipment.

According to the report, Ren-Form invoiced the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for N$23 million for a server that normally costs only N$90 000.

“Leaked documents suggest the printing firm inflated the price of ballot papers, biometric voter registration kits and portable toilets, while its politically connected partner, Wicknell Chivayo, made payments to mystery officials,” Daily Maverick wrote.

In this instance, Chivayo acted as agent for Ren-Form, a family-owned commercial printing company in Johannesburg.

Ren-Form was unreachable for comment, however, Chivayo yesterday denied any involvement in the previous Zimbabwean elections or the upcoming Namibian elections.

“For the record, neither I nor my company, Intratrek Zimbabwe (Private) Limited, or any other, have ever participated in any tender involving the ZEC, nor have we been involved with Ren-Form in any contracts related to the procurement of election-related material or equipment,” he said.

Chivayo said the Zimbabwean anti-corruption commission has not lodged a case against him.

The accusations are being sponsored by “some small opposition political party in Namibia and are entirely baseless”.