Opposition parties threaten to take action against ECN

Opposition parties gave the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) until yesterday afternoon to address their concerns on the voting process, or they would take action.

The opposition parties wanted an explanation for why the presidential and National Assembly elections on Wednesday were marred by ballot shortages and glitches with the verification machines.

They called on the ECN to stop the counting of votes countrywide and asserted that the commission’s leadership was incompetent.

Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) general secretary Christine !Aochamus, while addressing the media in Windhoek on Wednesday, said they do not believe the elections were free and fair.

“They must stop the voting and the counting,” she said.

Yesterday afternoon, the opposition parties turned ECN officials away from their own boardroom. Tempers flared after the Namibian Police escorted Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa into the building for a scheduled meeting.

The commission yesterday called for a meeting at 12h00 but only showed up at 13h00, without communicating with the parties about the delay.

ECN chairperson Elsie Nghikembua and other commissioners were asked to excuse the opposition political parties to allow them to consult on the way forward, after they asserted that ECN officials were ignoring their calls and messages.

In the meantime, the leadership of the security cluster, including deputy inspector general Elias Mutota and Windhoek City Police chief Leevi Ileka arrived at the commission after some commotion occurred in the corridors.