Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) – Page 2

26 Sep

ECN won’t investigate illegal voter registration

ObserverObserver MoneyElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)

Andrew Kathindi The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has ruled out investigating allegations that Angolan nationals are being illegally registered as voters, a move which opposition political parties have said will impact on the credibility and outcome of elections. The decision by the ECN flies in the face of a confirmation by Swapo Omusati regional coordinator Sackey Kayone that he had received a report detailing how Angolan nationals are being registered in his area. According to Kayone, the report from the Okalongo councilor has fingered church leaders and ECN officials for assisting Angolan nationals to get voting cards. When quizzed…

10 Sep

No voting day extension – ECN

ObserverObserver MoneyElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)

Andrew Kathindi The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has ruled out the possibility of the upcoming regional council and local authority elections taking place over more than one day. This comes amid concerns that COVID-19 could impact on voting due to health and safety restrictions, with Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani has urged the ECN to consider a new strategy which will allow more time for people to vote. “There are people calling us from the regions saying I'm afraid to even go and stand in the queue to register because I do not know if I am…

10 Sep

Kayone admits Angolan voter registration . . . as church, ECN officials are fingered

ObserverObserver MoneyElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Swapo Omusati regional coordinator Sackey Kayone

Helena Johannes Swapo Omusati regional coordinator Sackey Kayone has confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that Angolan nationals are being registered to vote in Namibia. He said his office had received a report from Okalongo councilor’s office on Tuesday stating that church leaders together with individuals from the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) are assisting Angolan nationals to get voting cards. “The story of Venaani is misleading because it is not the councilors who are involved in this issue, but these Angolans are being assisted by church representatives together with some individuals from ECN to get voting cards,” he told the…

17 Jul

We didn’t make a mistake – ECN

ObserverObserver MoneyElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), High Cour, PDM

Andrew Kathindi The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) maintains it did not make a mistake regarding the amendment of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) parliamentary list, seemingly hinting at its intention to appeal the High Court ruling. On Monday the High Court ruled in favour of PDM members Charmaine Tjirare and Hidipo Hamata in their case in which they challenged their removal from their party’s parliamentary list which was gazetted just before last year’s general election. The ruling requires that PDM members Charmaine Tjirare, Reggie Diergaardt, Frans Bertolini, Yvette Araes, Mike Venaani and Tjekupe Maximilliant Katjimune be sworn in as…

13 Jul

2016 decision haunts transparency calls

ObserverObserver MoneyElectoral Act of 2014, Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)

...as Swapo cites lack of regulations Andrew Kathindi It appears that a decision taken by political parties in 2016 not to reveal the source of their donations has come back to haunt them, four years later. This comes amid increased calls for the Swapo party to be transparent with its source of funds. The ruling party has been implicated in the Fishrot saga. In 2016, following the amendment of the Electoral Act of 2014, political parties unanimously decided to leave out the disclosing of the source of their donations exceeding a prescribed amount as per the Act, after a workshop…

09 Jul

Swapo unmoved by new parties

ObserverObserver MoneyElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Hilma Ndinelago Nicanor, Job Amupanda, Panduleni Itula, SWAPO, Swapo Party

Andrew Kathindi The ruling Swapo party says it is not moved by news of political parties being formed by former members and registered to contest the upcoming local elections. This comes after Panduleni Itula, who last year contested the presidential elections, and narrowly lost to President Hage Geingob, lodged an application with the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to register a political party. Itula was expelled from the party earlier this year for contesting as an independent candidate. Recently, Job Amupanda, leader of the Affirmative Repositioning movement also announced that the movement would register as a political organization to contest…