Approximately 1.4 million voters out of a total population of over 3 million registered to decide the future of Namibia, the southern African desert country. The elections to elect the President and 194 members of the National Assembly, initially scheduled for the one day of 27 November 2024, marked the country’s seventh general elections since national independence in 1990. With 15 political parties contesting, the elections marked a historic milestone as SWAPO fielded its first female presidential candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. The most outstanding feature was that the voting period in some polling stations was extended by a few days.
The early general elections were called due to the death in February 2024 of President Hage Geingob, aged 82, who would have left office after his second and final constitutionally mandatory term, which would only end in March 2025, having been succeeded by his Vice-President, Nangolo Mbumba, who did not run. Fifteen candidates, including SWAPO’s Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, contested the presidency. The main opponents were Panduleni Itula (IPC), McHenry Venaani (MDP), and Henry Ferdinand Mudge (RP), among others. A total of 21 parties participated in the legislative elections.
The presidential election is held every five years, with the head of state allowed to run for re-election only once. Since independence, SWAPO has consistently won elections but this year faced strong opposition due to social issues like unemployment and the rising cost of living.
Two members of the IMBISA Secretariat visited some polling stations in Windhoek on election day. Following are some of the key observations:
- The electoral environment was generally peaceful and calm.
- Restrictions on alcohol sales during public holidays and weekends helped maintain order.
- Voters could vote anywhere in the country, and not only in the ward where they registered.
- Voting was extended to 30 November in some polling stations due to logistical issues like ballot shortages and technical problems with voter verification tablets.
- Long queues persisted, with some voters waiting up to 12 hours.
- Logistical problems and delays drew strong criticism from political parties and voters, with the opposition questioning the legitimacy of the election results.
The IMBISA Secretariat recommends more efficient organization for future elections, including improvements in logistics, electronic systems, and the voting period to ensure fairness and avoid any suspicions, questions about the fairness and possible irregularities in the electoral process.