Namibian political parties question ECN’s extra 400 000 ballots for elections

Some political parties have voiced scepticism over the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) opting to print an extra 400 000 ballot papers for Namibia’s national elections on 27 November.

This follows ECN chief electoral officer Peter Shaama confirming that the commission received 3.2 million ballot papers in total on Wednesday.

Shaama explained that for 1.4 million registered voters, the commission printed an extra 200 000 election ballot papers for the presidential election, as well as an extra 200 000 ballots for the National Assembly election.

“They will serve as a contingency for those who may make mistakes and request a second ballot,” he said.

He noted that in terms of the current electoral law, there can be no additional tender awarded for ballots for the upcoming elections.

“Voters may cast votes outside their constituency during the presidential and National Assembly elections.”

This will allow Namibians to vote freely anywhere, whether at any locality within the country or at embassies worldwide, he said.

“Mechanisms are in place to accommodate voters from other constituencies, addressing this issue effectively,” he added.

OPPOSITION PARTIES CAUTIOUS

United Democratic Front spokesperson Mabasen //Narib says the ECN is busy tampering with the credibility of the upcoming elections.

“The ECN had five years to prepare for these elections, but the way they are conducting the process will make the people think they are planning to rig these elections,” he says.

//Narib believes the ballot papers must be equal to the number of registered voters.

“A spoiled ballot is registered as a spoiled ballot during the counting process. How will the extra ballots account for spoiled ballots?” he questions.

According to //Narib, this action has cast doubt over the credibility of these elections.

“How can we be confident if we don’t know why an extra 200 000 ballots were printed [for each election]?,” he further questions.
He says the decision to print extra ballots raises eyebrows.

“Who are the ghost voters who will use those extra ballot papers to vote?

“Nothing is going according to plan. First it was the selection of the company [marred by] allegations of corrupt practices, now it’s extra ballots that are printed. We are just wondering what is next,” says //Narib.

Landless People’s Movement spokesperson Lifalaza Simataa says his party is cautious about the matter.

“We understand that the ECN provided two main reasons – to prevent spoiled ballots and ensure extra ones are available, and to account for the freedom of movement that Namibians enjoy.”

He says the flexibility will make it easy for individuals who opt to travel to other areas on voting day.

National Empowerment Fighting Corruption deputy leader Matheus Stephanus says the printing of extra ballot papers is a method to rig the elections.

“The ECN is a political institution run by political appointees and endorsed by the two-thirds majority of Swapo in the parliament. We are no longer going to tolerate incompetence from the ECN,” he adds.