Patience Makwele
Newly appointed Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) chairperson Gerson Sindano says the commission will push for changes to electoral laws to address challenges experienced during previous elections.
Sindano, who formally took office last week, said the ECN is currently working on electoral amendment bills which will be consolidated before being taken to political parties and other stakeholders for further input.
“The only way we can deal with those challenges is if we review some of the existing laws and make sure that they speak to our current needs and our current operation,” Sindano said.
He said the process would eventually proceed to the National Assembly and National Council once the ECN has completed its consultations.
The Electoral Amendment Bill before Parliament proposes changes to the Electoral Act, including provisions on the eligibility of remunerated public servants and members of the National Council, regional councils and local authorities to contest National Assembly elections.
It also deals with leave for public servants participating in elections and resignation requirements for those elected to the National Assembly.
Sindano said the ECN also wants to change how it engages political parties, moving away from meetings that are mainly called when an issue arises.
“We need to meet these political parties and come up with some ideas on how best to build that capacity,” he said.
The ECN’s reform push comes as the commission works to rebuild relations with political parties following the controversy surrounding Sindano’s appointment.
Parliamentary committee chairperson Pohamba Shifeta previously defended the nomination process, saying the relevant legal requirements had been followed.
Opposition parties, however, questioned the process and Sindano’s perceived independence.
IPC parliamentarian John-Louw Mouton defended his party’s decision to walk out of parliament during the appointment process, saying the move was aimed at blocking decisions the party opposed.
He also raised concerns about Sindano’s previous links to Swapo and the need for the ECN to be seen as impartial.
The walkout initially left the National Assembly without the required quorum to decide on Sindano’s appointment.
The House later proceeded with the appointment after the required number of MPs was present.
Sindano said he did not take the parliamentary disagreement personally, describing it as part of Namibia’s democratic process.
“I was not bothered by what happened in parliament. In fact, what happened in parliament is the testimony, is a demonstration of our mature democracy,” he said.
He said his task now was to engage those who opposed his appointment and demonstrate through the ECN’s work that the commission would act impartially.
“What I have to do is reach out, convince the nation that despite our disagreement … we have to do our best now to make sure that we win the hearts and minds of those who may disagree with my appointment,” Sindano said.
He also announced plans to strengthen voter and civic education, including youth ambassador programmes and wider outreach beyond Windhoek.
“We want to reach out to the whole nation, not just here in the heartland of our nation,” he said.
Sindano further pointed to political party agents at polling stations as one of the safeguards in Namibia’s electoral system, saying agents receive results from polling stations and can independently consolidate them before the results reach the ECN headquarters.
He said the commission would continue to discharge its constitutional mandate “without fear of favour” and in an impartial manner.
