Allexer Namundjembo
While the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) challenge the outcomes of the recent elections, businessman and former Tsumeb regional councillor Nico Kaiyamo has called for the resignation of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) leadership.
Kaiyamo said this on his social media platform, where he urged the nation to demand the resignation of what he called “incompetent” ECN commissioners and management.
“Let us stop this opportunistic attitude of trying to privatise Namibia, as the Namibian Constitution guarantees rights and freedoms for all Namibians, not just some. Let us demand the resignation of the incompetent ECN bosses for attempting to harass and intimidate Namibians who are exercising their rights and freedoms as guaranteed by the Constitution, which is our supreme law,” he said.
He added that, in the meantime, the nation should allow the courts, as competent institutions, to interpret the laws.
Kaiyamo’s call was supported by the Affirmative Repositioning (AR)’s head of Legal, Maitjituavi Kavetu, who said the recent elections exposed the deep failures of the ECN under the current commissioners and chief referenda.
“Their role in the illegalities now before the Supreme Court, combined with the logistical chaos on voting day and the shady direct procurement of ballots, shows they cannot be trusted to oversee our democracy. We therefore join the call for their immediate resignation,” he said.
He further added that they (the commissioners) must be held accountable for undermining the people’s voice.
“This is not just about mistakes. It’s about a system that prioritises incompetence over the will of the people,” Kavetu said.
At the presidential and National Assembly election results announcement, ECN chairperson Elsie Nghikembua noted that there had been calls for an election rerun.
She said the ECN would not consider this.
“We are not announcing the results of re-running the elections, and therefore, we are not considering the financial implications of a rerun,” Nghikembua said.
During a Supreme Court status hearing on Thursday, Appeals Judge Hosea Angula urged the LPM to clarify its role in the IPC legal challenge regarding the presidential election.
He emphasised the importance of resolving the matter promptly, stating that the case should be concluded before 21 March this year.
The judge remarked that, amid LPM’s paperwork, the matter had been left unresolved, with no clear decision made about the role they intended to take, and their response appeared uncertain.
Tshuka Luvindao, representing the LPM, confirmed that his client is the applicant in the case. The court has instructed the applicants to submit any outstanding documents by 31 January.
The court has scheduled all parties to return on 3 February, when the hearing date will be set.
