Opposition parties in Namibia can view election data, according to a court ruling

On Friday, two opposition parties in Namibia who are attempting to contest the outcome of last month’s elections were granted a court order that permitted them to examine the election papers they had asked to view.

On November 27, Namibia’s ruling party, SWAPO, extended its 34-year control in the southern African state by winning both the presidential and parliamentary elections.

Among other things, opposition parties claimed that the election was faulty and perhaps void because of a multi-day voting extension.

“It is obvious that the election contained anomalies. The major opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), stated in a court document obtained by Reuters that it is seeking the information to “… ascertain the extent of the irregularities.”

“It also enables IPC to consider whether to launch proceedings concerning the validity of the elections,” stated the statement.

The IPC’s proposal was joined by the Landless People’s Movement, another opposition group.

Following a Friday morning hearing, Namibia’s electoral court directed the electoral commission to furnish the parties with election-related materials for their review, including the total number of votes cast and counted at each polling station each day.

The commission had to deliver the statistics the following week.
Voting was postponed for up to three days in some locations due to technological difficulties and a scarcity of ballot paper during the election.

“I am not even listening to those critics,” declared President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in her victory speech last week, dismissing claims that the election was tainted.

The election was free and fair, according to the electoral commission.
As the nation’s first female president, Nandi-Ndaitwah is scheduled to assume office in March.