Parties divided on securityaround ballot transportation

Political parties are divided on security around the printing of Namibia’s election ballots in South Africa.

This follows the National Empowerment Fighting Corruption (NEFC) deputy leader Matheus Stephanus raising concerns over the lack of Namibian police officers to monitor the printing of the ballot papers.

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) recently sent a delegation comprising 18 political parties contesting the elections to South Africa to inspect the printing process.

The delegation was to observe the design, layout, production, printing, packaging and delivery of ballot papers. It would also inspect the facilities where the ballot papers are printed.

The ECN has awarded Ren-Form, a South African company, a N$6.2-million tender to print ballot papers for the upcoming Presidential and National Asssembly elections.

“The printing goes beyond sleeping time. We need Namibian police officers to monitor the process 24 hours,” Stephanus says.

He says the only police officers part of the delegation are seniors, and he believes junior officers should have accompanied the politicians to oversee the process.

Independent Patriots for Change spokesperson Imms Nashinge says the process is well organised, and there is no need for the Namibian Police to be present. “These guys, they came here, they are not even wearing uniforms.

They came to observe with us.

They didn’t come to protect. And the way out is that they will be part of the cargo that will take the material from here to Namibia.

That’s the only arrangement I know of,” he says. Nashinge says Ren-Form has private security and cannot be dictated to. “It’s a private entity and this company is in business, and well organised,” he says. “First, the truck will arrive quickly to transport the necessary items. This is part of a step-by-step process. We print the required documentation, and then everything is recorded or booked accordingly,” Nashinge says.

He says each ballot booklet contains a hundred ballots.

“What could possibly happen? Can {someone} do {sometning} in the two or three hours you are sleeping?, ” he says. Each ballot can now be identified and tracked, using its specific ballot number,” he adds. Nashinge on Wednesday said the process was going well.

“There were a few concerns regarding the ballot, particularly the placement of our party emblems and logos.

However, those issues were addressed, and the printing of parliamentary ballots began smoothly yesterday at 15h00 and is still in progress,” he said.

Nashinge said he was looking forward to the packaging process.

“We will ensure the numbers align with the agreed arrangements from our plenary meetings,” he said.