The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) denies that it has been instructed to rig the upcoming elections.
It has distanced itself from a letter Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa allegedly wrote, instructing the ECN’s chief legal officer to influence the outcome of the November polls.
The letter has been circulating on social media, attracting the attention of political parties, with Landless People’s Movement stalwart Ivan Skrywer asking the commission’s chairperson, Elsie Nghikembua, for an explanation.
The letter, written on a Swapo letterhead and addressed to the ECN’s Heidi Jacobs, promises N$2 million if the commission were to favour the ruling party in the elections.
“We wish to categorically state that the allegations are not only malicious and baseless, but also intended to undermine the integrity and credibility of the commission ahead of the upcoming 2024 November elections.
“The letter in circulation, which falsely implicates our senior official, appears to be a deliberate act of impersonation and misinformation,” the ECN says.
The controversial letter allegedly states: “As part of the preparations for the 2024 presidential and National Assembly elections, the Swapo party relies on you, being inside the ECN to work out the best way to ensure a party victory.”
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