3 December 2024
ERC Africa Calls on the Electoral Commission of Namibia to Engage Stakeholders and Address the Disputes Surrounding the Namibian Election
The Election Resource Centre Africa (ERC Africa) takes note of the Namibian General Elections held on the 27th of November 2024, and is concerned by the growing disputes around the conduct of the elections and the subsequent announcement of the election results. In light of these disputes the ERC Africa calls on the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to take reasonable and tangible steps, beyond the legally mandated, to address the concerns raised by political parties and other stakeholders in relation to the Namibia election.
Free, fair and credible elections are the essence of representative democracy. The credibility of elections is essential to the legitimacy of elections. The ERC Africa seeks to remind stakeholders that the concept of credible, free and fair elections continues to evolve. Free, fair and credible is no longer limited to an assessment of adherence to the legal framework alone. Elections must not only be conducted freely, fairly and credibly, but they must be perceived as free, fair and credible to get acceptance. With the increasing disputes around the conduct of the Namibian General election, addressing the concerns raised by political parties and other stakeholders is now paramount to how the elections will be perceived.
ERC Africa understands that disputed elections have far-reaching consequences for any nation. Disputed elections have the potential to erode public confidence in elections and in the Electoral Commission, negatively impacting on voter turnout and participation. Disputed elections have the propensity to polarise society and in its worst form can escalate to violence as seen in Mozambique. Further, economic prospects can be dampened or amplified if elections as a governance measure are not deemed credible and their outcomes unsustainable.
While the ERC Africa takes note of existing mechanisms that redress election-related disputes, we urge the Namibian Government to harness alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to address concerns raised. ERC Africa seeks to remind the Namibian Government of their commitment under Article 13 of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) to “take measures to ensure and maintain political and social dialogue, as well as public trust and transparency between political leaders and the people, in order to consolidate democracy and peace.”
For more information
ERC Chairperson
Trust Maanda
+263 77 2432646
ERC Executive Director
Babra Ontibile Bhebe
+263 77 396 3785
