ECN – Windhoek Observer

20 Oct

Uproar over N$6.2 mil ballot paper printing tender

ObserverMainECN, Peter Shaama

Martin Endjala Several political parties have raised concerns regarding the N$6.2 million tender award to Ren-Form CC, a South African-based company to design and print ballot papers for the National Assembly and Presidential elections. The company is expected to print 1.6 million ballot papers inclusive of the 10% contingency. This would amount to N$3.90 per ballot paper. The tender was awarded on 17 October. However, on 7 October, two days before the deadline, the commission cancelled the tender. It is not clear which procurement method was applied to select Ren-Formas as a successful bidder. The Landless People's Movement (LPM), through…

01 Oct

NEFF races against time to secure National Assembly candidacy

ObserverMainECN, Epafras Mukwiilongo

Erasmus Shalihaxwe and Ester Mbathera The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) are racing against time, as the party has yet to hold its nomination conference for prospective National Assembly candidates. Political parties have until 16 October to submit their nominations for their candidates. The party’s leader, Epafras Mukwiilongo, on Tuesday told the Windhoek Observer that they are working hard to meet the deadline. “When we are done with the nominations, we will see when we will launch our party manifesto,” he said. The NEFF regained its political party status on Monday after the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) announced that…

26 Aug

Iipumbu claims NEFF deregistration was politically driven

ObserverNational NewsECN, Kalimbo Iipumbu

Stefanus Nashama The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters’ (NEFF) deputy leader, Kalimbo Iipumbu, claimed the party's deregistration by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) was politically motivated. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Monday, Iipumbu accused the ECN of being captured by the 'system'. "It seems that the ECN is weak, incompetent and captured to carry out its mandate," said Iipumbu. The NEFF was deregistered by the ECN in July for failing to submit its audited documents and publish them in 2022. According to Iipumbu, the ECN could have addressed the matter in an alternative way instead of deregistering the party.…

27 Apr

PDM threatens to boycott polls ….’partisan’ ECN commissioner irks PDM

ObserverUncategorisedECN, McHenry Venaani, MP Inna Hengari, Popular Demcratic Movement (PDM) leader, Swapo Party for filling up the ECN, wapo Party Secretary General

Martin Endjala One name among the members of the Electoral Commission of Namibia cause a major uproar in the National Assembly today. The vetting and endorsement of the commissioners of the elections body is always a controversial matter in the house and sometimes turns into real election campaigning. Opposition parties are in the habit of accusing the ruling Swapo Party for filling up the ECN with people sympathetic with Swapo. The vacancies for ECN commissioners are public advertised and candidates also interviewed publicly. The opposition parties were particularly irked by one commissioner, who they said served previously as an assistant…

21 Sep

Swapo wants Ndonga Linena re-election

ObserverObserver MoneyECN, Electoral Commission of Namibia, Ndonga Linena Constituency

Eba Kandovazu THE Chief Electoral Officer at the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Theo Mujoro, says the ECN will comply with the Electoral Court’s order to recount the votes cast in the Ndonga Linena Constituency during the 2020 Regional and Local Authorities Elections. Responding to Windhoek Observer’s queries, following Swapo’s threat to boycott the recount, Mujoro says logistical arrangements are currently being put in place to ensure a transparent and credible recount process in line with the court order. “We have noted the press release issued by the Swapo Party touching on a number of issues. A comprehensive response will…

16 Feb

ECN concedes to pay for election re-run

ObserverObserver MoneyECN, Theo Mujoro

Maria Hamutenya The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has conceded that it will pay political parties’ cost for their participation in the election re-runs in Koës, Aroab, Stampriet Local authorities and Mariental Rural Constituency now scheduled for Friday, 26 February. The ECN had previous hinted that it might appeal the ruling handed by Judge Shafimana Ueitele in the Electoral Court’s judgement in December, depending on the reasons given that the commission should carry the cost for political parties to participate in the rerun of the polls as it was not within its mandate. “The court order will be complied with…

11 Nov

ECN finally calls Shalli to order

ObserverObserver MoneyECN, Electoral Commission of Namibia, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), RT Lieutenant General Martin Shalli

Andrew Kathindi The Electoral Commission of Namibia, (ECN) has at last called out retired Lieutenant General of the army Martin Shalli after his comments about ‘cutting throats of Swapo party defectors’ drew widespread criticism. This comes as Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), Vice-President Jennifer Van Den Heever laid a criminal charge at the Windhoek Police Station against retired Major-General. Shalli made these comments while campaigning for Swapo in Okahandja on Saturday 7 November. “The ECN has noted with concern a video clip circulated on various media platforms where one of the leaders of the Swapo party, RT Lieutenant General Martin Shalli…

03 Nov

State funds must build Namibia first

ObserverNational NewsECN, Namibia, SADC, South Africa

The contract for printing Namibian ballots is now farmed out to South Africa. This is a mistake during this unique, crisis situation in Namibia. How can this country hope to revive if state funds, i.e., taxpayer money, are going to secure South African jobs? The government must invest at home, even if it seems to cost more (on the surface) to kick start the economy and save local jobs, businesses and families. In this terrible economic crisis, the government must ensure that Namibia revives. The bottom line is that we need different avenues to invest at home to inject money…

08 Oct

AR to file for new application with the High Court …As electoral tribunal dismisses application

ObserverObserver MoneyAffirmative Reposition (AR), ECN, Electoral Tribunal

Clifton Movirongo The Affirmative Reposition (AR) movement says it will approach the High Court on Thursday after the Electoral Tribunal for Windhoek dismissed its application for continuous voters' registration the day before. This comes as AR in September took the government and ECN to the Electoral Tribunal pursuing an order to make the ECN to implement continuous voters' registration. One of the issues placed before the Electoral Tribunal is the decision of the Electoral Commission not to fill the casual vacancy at the Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency as required by Section 3 of the Regional Council Act 22 of 1992. AR's…

12 Aug

ECN appeals PDM list ruling

ObserverObserver MoneyECN, Electoral Commission of Namibia, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), Theo Mujoro, Windhoek Observer

Andrew Kathindi The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has on Tuesday appealed the High Court’s ruling on the amendment of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) parliamentary list. This comes after ECN boss Theo Mujoro previously told Windhoek Observer that the commission did nothing wrong. Government Attorney, Mati Asino, who represents the ECN, confirmed the decision to appeal the ruling. “Our client gave us instructions to appeal because they strongly feel that they have good prospect of success. We are not just appealing for the sake of appealing, there’s good reason why, and those will be presented in court,” he told…