DODOMA: CHAIRPERSON of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation and President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has urged Namibians to ensure a peaceful, credible and inclusive electoral process as the country heads to the polls today.
In a statement released on the eve of the elections, Dr Samia commended Namibia for its history of peaceful elections and adherence to democratic principles.
The elections will determine the nation’s next president and the leadership of the 8th National Assembly. She said it’s crucial to maintain the legacy and adhering to the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).
To support the electoral process, SADC has deployed its Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to Namibia.
The mission, led by Anne Makinda, former Speaker of Tanzania’s National Assembly, consists of experts and observers from SADC member states, their role is to monitor all stages of the election, including the pre-election phase, polling and post-election processes, to ensure transparency, fairness and adherence to democratic standards.
In her statement, Ms Makinda indicated that SADC Member States have contributed personnel and resources to constitute the teams of observers under the SEOM. These observers are selected by individual Member States in accordance with criteria set out under the Principles and Guidelines.
The SEOM has a total of 65 observers drawn from the 8 SADC Member States, namely: Kingdom of Eswatini, the Republics of Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the United Republic of Tanzania.
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The Observers will be deployed across all the 14 regions of Namibia, namely: Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Kavango West, Kavango East, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa and Zambezi.
Namibia has long been recognised as one of Africa’s most stable democracies. Since gaining independence in 1990, the country has conducted regular elections, which are praised for their organisation and fairness.
The ruling SWAPO Party, which has been in power since independence, faces challenges from opposition parties, including the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), as voters seek solutions to pressing issues such as unemployment and economic recovery.
At least 1.4 million people, or about half of the population, have registered to vote in the elections, with 15 political parties running for president and seats in the National Assembly.
Dr Samia’s statement highlighted the importance of high voter turnout and responsible behaviour from political parties and their supporters. She urged stakeholders to ensure calm and cooperation throughout the election period, contributing to the region’s commitment to democratic governance.
The SEOM’s presence underscores SADC’s dedication to promoting peaceful and credible elections across the region. This year’s election marks another critical moment for Namibia as it consolidates its democracy and sets an example for other nations in the Southern African region.
