Political parties fielding candidates in both the presidential and parliamentary elections have been invited to meet with the electoral commission.
In Namibia, vote counting began on Thursday after prolonged delays on election day caused by technical issues, forcing authorities to extend voting in a critical poll that could challenge the ruling party’s 34-year dominance.
Logistical challenges on Wednesday in this southern African nation, including failures of electronic tablets used for voter identification and a shortage of ballots, left crowds waiting in line until the early hours of Thursday.
According to Namibian electoral law, polling stations were set to close at 9:00 PM on Wednesday (7:00 PM GMT), but voters already in line by that time were allowed to cast their ballots.
Equipped with folding chairs and umbrellas to endure the slow-moving queues and scorching sun, Namibians among the 1.5 million registered voters waited for hours outside polling stations, some for as long as 12 hours.
Addressing Complaints
At the University of Science and Technology in Windhoek, voting concluded at 5:00 AM on Thursday. Election officials confirmed to AFP that the process had ended by that hour.
Outside Windhoek’s City Hall polling station, Reagan Cooper, a 43-year-old farmer among around 100 voters still in line, described the situation as “deeply disappointing.” The Namibian Electoral Commission (ECN) extended voting hours in response to the delays.
Initial results, originally expected on Saturday, may now be delayed. Political parties fielding candidates in both presidential and parliamentary elections were invited to meet with the ECN at noon on Thursday to address complaints about the process.
The opposition, particularly the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), accused the electoral commission of unfair practices, blaming it for the long queues.
A Chance for the First Woman President
Christine Aochamus, an IPC official, said, “We have reason to believe the ECN deliberately oppressed voters and attempted to discourage them from voting.”
The poll could pave the way for the election of the country’s first female leader as the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) party faces its greatest political challenge since Namibia’s independence from South Africa in 1990.
However, analysts say SWAPO’s candidate, current Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, could face an unprecedented runoff.
Ndumba Kamwanyah, a lecturer at the University of Namibia, said the long queues were “a sign that people truly want change.”
Namibia’s Challenges
“In my opinion, this is not good news for the ruling party,” an analyst told AFP.
SWAPO has governed resource-rich Namibia since its independence, but complaints about unemployment and persistent inequality may weaken its position in this election.
Panduleni Itula, IPC leader and former dentist turned lawyer, expressed optimism on Wednesday about “toppling the revolutionary movement.”
Despite being a major exporter of uranium and diamonds, much of Namibia’s three million-strong population has yet to benefit significantly from its wealth.
