By McGeorge Mbare
Namibia’s main opposition party Independent Patriots for Change has issued a complaint against the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) amid widespread shortages of ballot papers on polling day.
In a statement, the Conradie INC, legal practitioners that represent the opposition leader Dr. Panduleni Itula issued a complaint against the unavailability of ballot papers at various polling stations across Namibia in particular the Ohangwena region and Omudaungilo constituency from 1500 hours on voting day.
“It is our instruction to address the following letter to you ,firstly to register our clients ‘ objection against the lack and /or unavailability of ballot papers at various polling stations across the country and in particular the Ohangwena and Omudaungilo constituency where most of these stations do not have ballots papers since 1500hours on the voting day today ,as well as the stations such as Finkenstein ,Brakwater shopping centre and some stations ballot papers are running out such as at Centaurus School and secondly to notify you of the very serious breach of the constitutional right to vote of registered voters across the country,” read statement reads.
Meanwhile, the Popular Democratic Movement McHenry Venaani has made bold statements, highlighting that his party won’t take it easy if the electoral commission of Namibia is running the elections in contravention of the law. He alluded an example of Mozambique protest as the most likely to be expected outcome if the ECN fail to serve justice.
Meanwhile some analysts have ascribed the ballot chaos in Namibia to the country’s voting system which allows voters to vote anywhere in the country.
“Namibia allows people to vote at any polling station in the country as long as you have your voter card.It becomes difficult to anticipate how many people will vote at a specific polling station. They printed enough papers, rather all political parties, should be 21 of them except one sent a representative each to SA, they agreed whilst there, the format of ballot papers, waited and observed the actual printing, put their seals then sent back home . They were happy with the number of ballot papers printed. The country has enough ballot papers but only challenge one would not knowing where people will vote,” said one analyst who preferred anonymity.