Niël Terblanché
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has successfully dispatched ballot papers and non-sensitive election materials to 33 of the country’s 35 diplomatic missions worldwide.
This is preparation for the Presidential and National Assembly elections special voting window for Namibians in the diaspora set for 13 November.
The chief electoral and referenda officer, Peter Shaama in a statement on Monday said that the distribution commenced and concluded last Thursday, with the materials sent out on 1 November.
The material was sent through the diplomatic bags of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (MIRCO).
Shaama added that the remaining two missions in Ondjiva and Menongue in Angola would receive their election materials shortly.
“To ensure transparency and public trust in the electoral process, the ECN invited representatives from all 21 political parties contesting this year’s national elections to observe the packaging and dispatch of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials,” he said.
Shaama reported that only 11 parties participated in this oversight process, which remains open to all parties for the ongoing distribution stages.
He encouraged all contesting political entities to participate actively in monitoring the election preparations.
“The integrity of our democratic process is a shared responsibility,” he said while calling for broader engagement as the country approaches the election.
Shaama took the time to reaffirm the ECN’s dedication to a fair, transparent electoral process, consistent with its constitutional mandate.
He also pledged to keep electoral stakeholders and the public updated on the progress of material distribution, including special voting provisions scheduled for members of the uniformed forces and sea-going personnel within the country on 13 November.
