Electoral commission reviews NEFF High Court ruling as party remains registered

…lawyer says party remains registered

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) says it is still studying the judgement in which the High Court ruled in favour of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) two weeks ago.

ECN spokesperson Mulauli Siluka yesterday said the commission’s decision on the matter will be “communicated at the most appropriate time”.

NEFF deputy president Kalimbo Iipumbu yesterday said the party is still actively engaging with the ECN to streamline the process.

He said on Monday he was told by National Assembly speaker Peter Katjavivi that NEFF may not return to parliament without a letter from the ECN confirming that they are registered as a party.

Katjavivi could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Iipumbu said NEFF expects the ECN to prioritise the matter and provide a transparent timeline to minimise disruptions.

He said the initial cancellation and subsequent delays have significantly hampered NEFF’s activities.

“It has led to uncertainty in planning campaigns and outreach initiatives, as well as challenges in fundraising efforts,” he said.

It has also hindered the process of mobilising supporters and preparing for upcoming elections, he added.

“We’ve been working on refining our policy positions and strategies to ensure we are well-prepared for the upcoming elections and political dynamics,” said Iipumbu.

He highlighted that NEFF is committed to implementing robust internal systems for financial reporting and compliance.

“We plan to conduct regular audits and training for our members to ensure adherence to regulations and prevent similar issues from arising in the future,” he said.

The deregistration of the NEFF by the ECN in June stemmed from the party’s failure to submit audited annual financial statements and saw the party lose its two seats in the National Assembly.

Earlier this month, the High Court, under judge Thomas Masuku, ruled in favour of NEFF. Masuku set aside the ECN’s decision and ordered the commission to cover NEFF’s legal costs.

Lawyer Norman Tjombe yesterday explained that the court ruling rendered the ECN’s decision to deregister the NEFF null and void, meaning the party remains registered.

He said the ECN should comply with the order immediately.

“The court ordered that the decision of the ECN to deregister [NEFF] was invalid. Thus, it is as if there was no decision in the first place, and the party will be considered to be never [have been] deregistered in the first place. ECN is to comply immediately,” he said.