Justicia Shipena
The Electoral Commission of Namibia has revealed several discrepancies in ballot paper packs supplied for the 2025 regional councils and local authorities elections. Voting for the elections begins next week.
Chief electoral and referenda officer Peter Shaama said the issues were found during the final verification and packing of ballot materials at the ECN Logistics Store in Windhoek.
Political party representatives were present when the problems surfaced.
Shaama said the discrepancies included under-allocation and over-allocation of ballot papers for some polling stations, as well as duplicate ballot papers in packs for both the regional council and local authority elections.
The errors were recorded in constituencies and local authorities across Kavango West, Ohangwena, Khomas, Omusati, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Kunene and Erongo.
“These issues were detected despite the distribution schedules indicating the actual quantities required,” he said.
Shaama said the ECN immediately engaged UniPrint Global, the South African company contracted to print the ballots.
He said the commission demanded a full report on the errors, steps to correct them and confirmation of delivery timelines to ensure the correct ballot papers arrive before teams are deployed on 23 November.
“Time is of the absolute essence to ensure adherence to the elections timetable,” Shaama said.
UniPrint Global has committed to delivering corrected ballot papers at its own cost today at Hosea Kutako International Airport. Shaama said verification and packing of the new ballots will begin as soon as they arrive, again in the presence of political party representatives.
Ballot papers that were duplicated or supplied in excess have been sealed in ballot boxes.
Shaama said these boxes were sealed in the presence of political party representatives and will remain untouched until a disposal date is agreed with the party liaison committee.
The ECN said it has already dispatched sensitive election materials to regions not affected by the discrepancies, including Zambezi, Kavango East, Omaheke, Hardap, //Kharas and Oshana.
Shaama assured the public that the Commission is taking decisive action to secure all necessary ballot materials in time for the special voting on 24 November and the main elections on 26 November.
Meanwhile, the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has called for the immediate removal of ECN leadership.
LPM’s chairperson for mobilisation, Ivan Skrywer, accused the Commission of failing to manage the electoral process and putting the integrity of the election at risk.
Skrywer said the ballot paper discrepancies are a serious breach of public trust and a threat to free and fair elections. He said the errors show “clear incompetence” and must be addressed.
He warned that the discovery of underallocations, over-allocations and duplicate ballot papers raises concerns about whether the ECN is still able to run a credible process.
He described the situation as alarming and said voters cannot be expected to trust an institution that makes such fundamental mistakes.
“We cannot go into an election with an electoral body that has demonstrated such glaring lapses,” Skrywer said.
He said Namibia deserves an electoral system that inspires confidence.
Skrywer rejected the ECN’s reassurances. He said logistical failures so close to voting day require action, not statements.
He said the commission’s explanations do not restore trust and warned that repeated mistakes risk undermining the legitimacy of the final outcome.
He also criticised the ECN for what LPM views as a pattern of poor communication and lack of transparency.
He said the public should not learn about major ballot issues only after political parties raise concerns.
Skrywer said the ECN leadership should step aside so that the elections proceed under a structure that guarantees neutrality, efficiency and compliance with the law.
“The nation must have absolute confidence in the electoral process. If the ECN cannot meet that standard, then it is only right that those responsible make way for leadership that can.”
LPM has called for urgent parliamentary intervention to oversee corrective action and ensure that all ballot materials are fully verified before voting begins.
