Stefanus Nashama
Ivan Skrywer of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) and member of the Management Committee of the City of Windhoek, yesterday said that there are allegations that two of the 177 Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) laptops were recovered.
Skrywer told the Windhoek Observer yesterday that they were reliably informed by sources that two of 117 laptops that went missing at the ECN headquarters were recovered.
He said LPM as a stakeholder is demanding the ECN Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer, Theo Mujoro to confirm or respond to the news of the recovery of the laptops.
“We plead with your office to confirm or repudiate such allegations report to the stakeholders,” he said in a message to Mujoro.
According to Skrywer, the allegations have it that the two laptops were recovered on 8 May 2023, the day that LPM escorted the ECN materials to Keetmanshoop for the by-election that took place last month.
“If the allegations are true, why were ECN stakeholders such as political parties not informed about this,” he questioned.
Skrywer said on 13 June 2023, he wrote a letter to Mujoro’s office, demanding an answer and confirmation of the allegations, but Mujoro has not yet responded.
Meanwhile, Mujoro yesterday said he has received the letter, and referred this publication to the stakeholders and Engagements Department.
“I am currently driving. I received your questions in the email you sent to me. I forwarded it to Mr De Wet Siluka who now deals with the Stakeholders and Engagements Department. Find out from him,” Mujoro told the Windhoek Observer.
The letter from Skrywer states: “In case the of full recovery of 117 lost laptops, ECN should cease the use of such equipment between the day of recovery and during preparation periods for 2024 and 2025 and beyond.”
Skrywer is also demanding an answer on the ongoing investigations of the missing 177 laptops (sensitive election materials) into the registered theft case by the Namibian Police on 18 January 2023, reference CR277/01/2023.
“We want ECN’s commitment on the matter. Where are the laptops, and how far are the investigations about these laptops,” he questioned, adding that there should be proof that these laptops will not be used from now on,” Skrywer demanded.
He also said Mujoro should tell the public who recovered the laptops, and how and where they were recovered.
“All we want is just an answer and confirmation to the allegations, that is what we are asking,” he said.
