SWAPO Youth Criticizes Ballot Shortages and Voti...

SWAPO Youth Criticizes Ballot Shortages and Voting Delays in Namibia

Oscar J Jeke

Zim Now Writer

Namibia’s ruling party youth wing has expressed concern over a shortage of ballots and significant delays during Wednesday's voting process, despite prior efforts to prevent such issues.

In the months leading up to the general election, representatives of contesting Namibian political parties traveled to South Africa to assess ballot printing, aiming to ensure a smooth election. However, the SWAPO Youth League claims that logistical failures and a lack of communication on the part of the Electoral Commission of Namibia led to voter frustration and long queues at polling stations.

Ephraim Nekongo, the SPYL secretary, issued a statement condemning the situation: “The shortage of ballot papers has resulted in many voters waiting for hours without adequate communication or support from ECN officials. We urge the ECN to publicly address these concerns and provide clear information to the Namibian nation moving forward.”

The youth league also called on the ECN to extend the voting period to allow every eligible voter the chance to cast their vote. “It is imperative that the ECN upholds the integrity of the electoral process and ensures transparency to restore public trust,” Nekongo added. “Given the current situation, we strongly urge the ECN to extend the voting period to accommodate all voters and ensure they can exercise their democratic rights.”

This issue in Namibia mirrors a similar incident during Zimbabwe's August 2023 general election, where a ballot shortage forced President Emmerson Mnangagwa to extend the voting period by an extra day. Both Zimbabwe and Namibia sourced their voting materials from Ren-Form, a South African-based company allegedly partly owned by Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivhayo. Ren-Form is also believed to have secured a tender to provide electoral materials to Zambia for its 2026 general elections.