Namibian electoral commission calls for elections without fear or favour
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Windhoek Observer
Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson Gerson Sindano called for fair and transparent elections at the opening of an electoral risk management workshop in Windhoek. He based his remarks on the problems recorded in 2024, notably ballot shortages and faulty verification equipment, according to the Windhoek Observer.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) is calling for elections that are fair, transparent and conducted “without fear or favour”. Its chairperson, Gerson Sindano, said so on Monday at the opening of a three-day training workshop on electoral risk management and resilience, held at the NamPower Convention Centre in Windhoek, according to the Windhoek Observer. He believes electoral integrity is essential to public trust, citizen participation and social cohesion.
These remarks follow the difficulties recorded during the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections: ballot shortages at some polling stations, breakdowns of voter verification equipment and problems involving mobile polling teams. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission also noted uneven coverage of political parties by public media during the campaign.
The Electoral Act No. 5 of 2014 requires the commission to manage elections fairly and impartially, without receiving instructions from any authority or person. The training is organised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), in partnership with the Indian Institute for Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM). Sanjay Sharma, head of the research and innovation centre at IIIDEM, says most electoral risks are ordinary: a delay in delivering equipment, inadequate training or a poorly explained message to the public, which can become serious if ignored.
