Hertta-Maria Amutenja
South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have condemned any form of electoral manipulation, including extending voting days from Wednesday to Saturday due to logistical challenges in the just-ended presidential and national assembly election in Namibia.
“The will of the people must be respected, and no amount of manipulation should be allowed to undermine their voice,” reads a statement issued by Julius Malema’s party on Tuesday.
The EFF has pledged to monitor developments and support efforts to address irregularities, calling for transparency, fairness, and true democracy in Namibia.
It has expressed concern over the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN) failure to address logistical and technical challenges during the election, such as shortages of ballot papers and problems with voter registration tablets.
“The EFF will be closely watching the post-election developments and stands ready to support any legitimate efforts to challenge irregularities. We reiterate our call for peace, fairness, and true democracy. The people of Namibia, like all Africans, deserve nothing less than transparent and just governance,” the EFF said.
The EFF, which is the mother party of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), has voiced its opposition to the legitimacy of the election.
Its Namibian branch joined forces with some opposition parties to declare their disapproval of the results.
The NEFF has rejected the election results, citing allegations of electoral fraud and a collaboration between SWAPO and ZANU-PF.
The party accused the ECN of facilitating an unfair process that undermined the country’s democracy.
NEFF Deputy President Kalimbo Iipumbu has described the election results as a betrayal of the people’s trust and aspirations for change.
“This is not just an assault on our democratic principles but a direct insult to the sacrifices made by Namibians in pursuit of a free, fair, and prosperous nation,” said Iipumbu.
He called for an independent audit of the election process and intends to pursue all legal means to challenge the results.
The NEFF also plans to investigate the actions of the ECN and to engage with local and international bodies about the alleged irregularities.
“We recognise the frustration and disappointment that comes with this moment. However, we urge all Namibians to remain calm and peaceful as we collectively navigate this critical juncture,” Iipumbu said.
Legal expert Sam-Leon Nakantimba weighed in on the possibility of challenging the results through legal means.
The lawyer explained that Namibia’s Electoral Act does not explicitly provide for independent audits of election results.
Instead, the law allows for verification and recounts, which are carried out under the supervision of the ECN.
“For instance, Section 106 defines “verification” as the aggregation of returns from various polling stations without recounting and recalculating the contents of sealed packets, as well as an examination of the returns by way of collating the totals of ballot papers and voting machine results. This ensures that all votes and election materials, including unused and rejected ballots, are checked for accuracy,” he said.
Section 108 outlines the responsibilities of returning officers in verifying and examining returns to ensure the integrity of ballots and voting machines before the final announcement of results.
Nakantimba pointed out that any legal challenge must overcome a “materiality hurdle,” which requires proof that alleged irregularities had a significant impact on the election outcome.
“To succeed, NEFF would need to present credible evidence that alleged issues—such as voting irregularities or ECN mismanagement—substantially altered the election’s outcome. This is no small task; generalised claims or minor procedural errors won’t suffice,” he said.
