Namibia’s opposition presidential candidate, Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), announced on Saturday that his party would reject the results of the country’s general election, citing delays and logistical failures.
The election, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was marred by significant disruptions, including hours-long queues caused by logistical and technical failures. As a result, electoral authorities extended voting until Saturday, a move that Itula claims undermined the credibility of the process.
Partial results show Itula trailing the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) candidate, Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. However, Itula has declared his intention to challenge the outcome and seek nullification of the results, potentially through a court petition once the final results are announced.
Elsie Nghikembua, chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, acknowledged the challenges, stating that many voters were unable to cast their ballots due to logistical issues.
The election controversy in Namibia coincides with unrest in Mozambique, where allegations of vote rigging by the ruling Frelimo party in October have sparked violent protests. The parallel challenges highlight growing frustrations with electoral processes across parts of southern Africa.
Itula, who also finished second in the 2019 election, has framed his rejection of the vote as a fight for democratic integrity. Meanwhile, the ruling SWAPO party, which has governed Namibia since independence in 1990, continues to face criticism over economic challenges and political dominance.
The outcome of the Namibian election and any potential legal challenges will be closely watched, as electoral tensions ripple across the region.