Pressure mounts on ECN over controversial ballot tender

Pressure is mounting on the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to cancel an emergency procurement tender awarded to South African-based Ren-Form CC, for printing the November elections ballot.

This comes after discoveries that Ren-Form has been at the centre of a N$570-million invoice inflation tender during the Zimbabwe 2023 election, which was won by Zanu-PF.

The same company that provided the ballot paper via emergency procurement in Zimbabwe also won the bid via the same process in Namibia, raising eyebrows.

Lawyer Patrick Kauta of Dr Weder, Kauta and Hoveka Incorporated has now given the ECN seven days to provide reasons why it withdrew the bid on 7 October and instead awarded it to Ren-Form CC.

CALL FOR DEMONSTRATIONS
In a strongly worded statement issued Friday afternoon, the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) has threatened to take to the streets if the tender is not withdrawn.

“The Namibian people must rise up and reject this betrayal of our democracy, as corrupt networks from Zimbabwe and South Africa attempt to interfere in our sovereign electoral process,” says NEFF deputy leader Kalimbo Iipumbu.

Ren-Form is also connected to controversial Zimbabwean businessman and socialite Wicknell Chivayo, who reportedly benefitted the most from the alleged invoice inflation in Zimbabwe.

“What we are witnessing is the formation of a corrupt triangle between Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe – a triangle of evil, intent on hijacking Namibia’s democracy and siphoning public funds,” Iipumbu adds.

NEFF has demanded the immediate cancellation of the Ren-Form tender, postponement of the elections and accountability and transparency from the ECN.

DEMANDING FULL DISCLOSURE
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has demanded full disclosure in terms of how the ECN arrived at selecting Ren-Form.
“IPC demands full public disclosure of all documents involved and calls for a thorough investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia to protect the trust of Namibian voters. Namibia deserves free, fair and credible elections. We will not stand by as our democracy is undermined,” says IPC spokesperson Imms Nashinge.

Swapo has also found itself in the crossfire, with several other parties alleging that Ren-Form’s selection, with its close ties to Zimbabwean business people, serves to benefit the ruling party.

“The selection of Ren-Form further solidifies our suspicions of a sinister plot involving [Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chair justice Priscilla] Chigumba, the ECN, and elements within Namibia’s ruling party, Swapo, in concert with Zanu-PF.”

“The NEFF cannot ignore the secretive meetings between senior Swapo officials and Zanu-PF leadership, raising alarm over possible underhanded deals and coordinated efforts to manipulate Namibia’s electoral process,” says Iipumbu.
Swapo has so far denied these allegations.

“The ECN is an independent body. We have decided as Swapo not to meddle in the affairs of the ECN because at the end of the day, we will be accused of influencing this and that …, therefore, we have no comment.

“We want to distance ourselves. All we want to do is win, and win overwhelmingly,” Herunga said.
ECN officials have not been answering their phones to provide comment.