The Electoral Commission of Namibia’s decision to cancel the registration of Christian Democratic Voice (CDV) as a political party has been set aside by the High Court.
The deregistration of the party was set aside by judge Shafimana Ueitele on Thursday, after the electoral commission (ECN) asked the High Court to review and set aside the decision the commission took in June.
The ECN cancelled the registration of the CDV and the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) on 13 June, after both parties failed to submit audited financial statements to the commission as required in terms of the Electoral Act.
The NEFF subsequently sued the ECN in the Windhoek High Court. The party won its case on 5 September, when judge Thomas Masuku ruled that the ECN failed to give the party an opportunity to be heard before the decision to cancel its registration was taken.
The chief electoral officer of the ECN, Petrus Shaama, informed the court in a sworn statement filed on Tuesday that the CDV’s registration as a political party was cancelled in similar circumstances as the deregistration of the NEFF.
Shaama said after the delivery of the judgement in the NEFF’s case, the ECN realised its error with its decision to deregister the CDV as well.
After getting legal advice, the ECN decided to approach the High Court to ask that its decision be reviewed and set aside, Shaama said.
The CDV has held one seat in the National Assembly since March 2020.
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