Event reports
Introduction
The term ‘democracy' derives from the ancient Greek words ’demos’ and ’kratos’, which can be translated to Rule of the People. Hence, for a democracy, such as the Namibian, to function, the involvement of the people is vital. According to Article 17 (1) of the
Namibian Constitution,” all citizens shall have the right to participate in peaceful political activity intended to influence the composition and policies of the Government “. In Namibia, this influence by the people is taken out through two different kinds of elections. One of those two is the Presidential and Parliamentary election, which was last held in November 2014. The other one is the election of Regional Councils and Local Authorities, which takes place on November 27, 2015.
Since Namibian independence in 1990, all elections have been held peacefully and without major disruption. However, it is worth mentioning, that every election has been heavily dominated by SWAPO, the current ruling party. Furthermore, voter outcome has
significantly decreased over the past years. For this reason, current President Hage Geingob has declared November 27 a public Holiday, to encourage the citizens to cast their vote.
In order to give you a general idea of all the parties which are up for election, we have summarized each of their current campaigns and manifestos in the following article.
1. APP (All People’s Party)
The APP was founded on 14 December 2007. The political programme of the All People’s Party is as followed: The main aim of the party is a fair allocation of wealth and equal possibilities for all Namibians.
The Political and Sustainable Social-Economic Transformation (PSETP) of the All People’s Party:
- To fight corruption within the country, in close cooperation with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The party wants to create a tribunal, which sole purpose is to expose and handle corruption cases, and at the same time, to reduce the work of Courts.
- Free access to agricultural land for everyone. An agricultural syllabus for schools, in order to make food accessible for everyone.
- Price stability for local fish and meat products.
- Trade Diversification and Investment Promotion:
- Support of local and foreign investors, for the sake of Namibia’s economy, as well as consultation of local and foreign experts.
- 51+ percent of newly founded companies should be owned by Namibians
- Reformation of the taxation system: less taxes for low and medium earners, as well as medium-sized companies. Furthermore, a luxury tax should be imposed.
- The APP regards adequate housing as a basic right for Namibians. The party promises projects in which affordable housing shall be build within the coming years. An annual investment of N$ 1 million is planned.
- The APP supports free and obligatory education, from primary school until University, as well as a reformation of the education system
- Every community shall have a health station/hospital, with sufficient personnel. The party supports the training of doctors and nurses, funded by the government.
- The party lays much focus on the progress of Namibia’s youth, with a focus on education, sports, culture and arts. This shall be one of APP’s top priorities in the forthcoming years. The youth shall be integrated into society.
- The development of a national security-expertise-teams, as well as an increase in wages for security personnel.
2. CDVP (Christian Democratic Voice Party)
Founded on the basis of Christian values. The first elections in which the CDVP took part, were the 2014 parliamentary elections. However, they did not announce an own candidate.
The CDVP has not yet developed an election or party programme. However, its main stand points are water availability and affordable housing.
The CDVP has not yet won any seats in Local Authority or Regional Council elections. This is the case, before the 2015 Regional Council and Local Authority elections are the first ones in which the CDVP contests. The only constituency it is present, however, is Swakopmund.
3. COD (Congress of Democrats)
The COD was founded in March 1999 by Ben Ulenga, formerly a high ranking SWAPO member, in protest of democratic deficits within SWAPO. The COD is an urban, left-liberal party, which wants to distance itself from SWAPO. Their main standpoints are the improvement of rights for homosexuals, protection of the environment and renewable energies.
The COD does not see itself as a party of a specific region or ethnicity, struggles however, to gain support in the northern regions. It sees itself as the ’party of intellectuals’.
Analysing the CoD’s results, it can be seen that electoral outcomes have significantly decreased between 2004 and 2010.
4. DPN (Democratic Party of Namibia)
The DPN is an ethnic based party, which can be associated with the Nama. Its main support comes from the southern regions of Namibia.
The DPN does not yet have an official party or election programme.
The DPN has not yet won any seats in Local Authority or Regional Council elections. This is due to the fact, that it is contesting for the first time in the Local Authority and Regional Council elections in 2015.
5. DTA of Namibia (Democratic Turnhalle Alliance)
TThe DTA is one of the biggest current opposition parties, and dates back to pre-independence days. It was founded as a consequence of the failed Turnhallen-conference in November 1977, as an Alliance of eleven different parties.
Initially, NUDO and RP members were part of the DTA. In 1999, DTA appeared as an independent party. However, they still cooperated with NUDO and the RP. Only in 2003, NUDO and RP let go of the Alliance with DTA.
When founded, the DTA was meant to be a political counterpart to the “socialist” SWAPO. DTA has always appeared to be an anti- Ovambo alliance, situated around Herero politics. After the 2014 Parliamentary elections, it became official opposition for the second time since Independence. The first time being right after Independence.
The guiding theme of their party programme is “Moving Namibia Forward”. It deals with peace, social security, freedom, democracy, HIV/AIDS education, land reforms, agriculture, foreign policies, decentralisation, healthcare, environmental protection, and education. Their specific aims are:
- The full utilization of Namibia’s economic potential
- Education, which which helps growth
- Foreign policy
- Health system: Improve quality, lower costs
- Decrease poverty
- Building of Housing
- Land reforms: Democracy for land owners
- Anti-Corruption
- Women: Mothers of our souls, Creators of our Nation
- Sport which makes our country proud
- Improve infrastructure for coming generations
- Our environment and Climate Change
- Tourism: Untouched potential
- Improvement in public transport
- Energy: Electricity for all
- Support mining and increase domestic production
When still in coalition with NUDO and RP, the DTA was very strong. However, after the split in 2003, the DTA lost a significant number of voters.
6. NUDO (National Unity Democratic Organisation)
NUDO can be qualified as the ethnic party of the Herero’s and was initially part of the DTA, until it became independent in 2003. Their mission is to unify the Namibian people as one, on the basis of the Namibian constitution (One Aim! One People! One Namibia! One Africa! One Destiny!). The party stands for the following values:
- Democracy
- Social Justice
- Social Responsibility
- Justice
- Inclusion
- Freedom
- Respect for Variety
- Integrity, Truth and Reliability
- Respect for the Rule of Law
After its split from the DTA in 2003, NUDO managed to get a significant election result, at the cost of DTA. This was effect seemed to be short lasting, as they lost more than one percent by 2010.
7. RDP (Rally for Democracy and Progress)
The RDP was founded in 2007. It was founded by former SWAPO members, which were expelled or left the party out of discontent.
Founding president is Hon. Hidipo Hamuuteny, who went back to SWAPO in February 2015, after dissatisfactory election results at the Parliamentary elections in 2014. In July 2015, Jeremiah Nambinga was elected new party president.
Their slogan is: It’s time for a change, together we can do better.
The RDP’s basic principles are:
- Democracy in all parts of the country
- Economic growth, for the good of the people
- Creation of jobs and support of youth business initiatives
- Improvement in Housing
- To fight Corruption
- Fair and equal redistribution of land for Namibians in need
- A style of governance, which takes the needs of the country and people into account
- To fight criminality and sexual assault
- An effective and independent judicative
Directly from the moment it was founded, RDP had a significant impact on the electoral results. However, this is partly due to the formed coalition with RP, for the elections in 2010.
8. RP (Republican Party of Namibia)
The RDP existed from October 22, 1977 until December 18, 2010. Since mid 2014 it is active again, as a conservative political party. It was furthermore a founding member of the DTA and worked In an alliance until 2003.
On September 7, 2010, the RP announced its fusion with the RDP. Mid 2014, however, it became active once more, under party president Henk Mudge and vice president Zoom Walubita.
On their two-paged party programme, the RP deals with unemployment; poverty; housing; education; land reform; minorities; incentive measures for underprivileged groups; natural resources; corruption; the creation of a separate ministry, which solely deal the the disabled, children and orphans; the health system; Black Economic Empowerment.
the RP has never had a significant turnout in Local Authority and Regional Council elections, yet.
9. SWANU (South West African National Union)
The party was founded in 1959, as the first Namibia-wide, national unity movement. Later, the OPO (Ovamboland People’s Organisation) and their leader Sam Nujoma, were integrated into SWANU. In 1960 already, the union between SWANU and OPO ended, and resulted in SWANU and SWAPO. The SWANU still existed as SWAPO competitor, but also as a co-operator in the SWANLIF (South West African National Liberation Front), which was formed in 1963.
The People’s Republic of China is one of their main supporters. SWANU can be described as radical pan-African and socialistic.
In their party programme, they lay emphasis on four basic topics:
- Nationalisation of Land, in order to open it for public lease
- Social Justice, Advice, Reintegration, foster-parenthoods, nursing homes have priority
- Free education from primary school until tertiary level
- National Unity
After the split with OPO/SWAPO, SWANU has never managed to gain much support.
10. SWAPO (South West African People’s Organisation)
Since Namibian independence in 1990, SWAPO is the governing party of Namibia, based on clear electoral victories. It is the dominating party of Namibia. Prior to independence, SWAPO was a Marxist oriented liberation movement.
The party was founded in 1960, through the split of the former Ovamboland People’s Organisation (OPO) from SWANU. Their aim was the independence of the former South West Africa.
During the last Presidential elections in 2010, SWAPO managed to get 75% of the votes. In 2004 it was 76,4%. This highlights the popularity, which SWAPO enjoys in big parts of the population.
The current programme is the election manifesto 2014, which has the title ”Consolidating Peace, Stability and Prosperity“. It has 57 pages and deals with the following topics.
- Democracy, Unity, Freedom, Stability, Rule of Law
- Governance and creation of nations
- Economic growth and creation of jobs
- Infrastructure, housing, and sanitary facilities
- Qualitative Health System
- Human capital development
- Environmental protection and sustainable use of raw materials
- Social Justice
- Foreign relations and international cooperation
SWAPO is a consultant member of the Socialist International.
SWAPO has clearly managed, not only to maintain their significant results, but to widen their lead.
11. UDF (United Democratic Front)
The UDF is a merger od numerous small parties. Their voters are usually located around the Kunene and Erongo region.
The emphasis of their party programme lies mainly on the reallocation of land. Furthermore, they concentrate on the health system, education system and agricultural development.
Over the past years, the UDF has, more or less, managed to maintain the electoral results.
12. UPM (United People’s Movement)
The UPM is an ethnic party, which resulted out of the „Rehoboth Democratic Movement“. Their party headquarter is allocated in Rehoboth.
Their one-paged party programme entails 16 sub-points, which circle around the topics of Christianity, protection of minorities and self-determination.
The UPM did not manage to get significant percentages on any of their past elections.
13. WRP (Workers Revolutionary Party; Communist Party)
Founded in May 1989, the WRP gave itself the new name Communist Party of Namibia in 2009. During the parliamentary elections are the current Local and Regional elections, however, they are still listed as Workers Revolutionary Party.
In their three-paged party programme, the WRP criticises the Namibian Parliament as capitalistic. They want to empower the working class and espescially speak out on behalf of SWATF/KOEVOET families. SWATF/KOEVOET was a South African police unit, which mainly operated during the Namibian uprising, 1978-1989. One of its main tasks was to persecute SWAPO-rebels.
On neither of their past elections, has the WRP managed to achieve a significant result.
Election Management
The Electoral Commission is of crucial importance when it comes to the election process. The Commission was established in 1992 with the Electoral Act, Act 24 and reformed in 2014 by the Electoral Act, Act 5. The Act of 2014 mandates the ECN to organize, supervise and control the conduct of elections and referenda in a free, fair, independent, credible, transparent and impartial manner as well as to strengthen constitutional democracy and to promote democratic electoral and referenda processes.
Problems regarding credibility, accountability and effectiveness shaped the ECN in the past. Take for example the role of the President. He is, empowered by the Constitution, tasked with the nomination of members of the Commission. This has to be done in accordance with the National Assembly, but both institutions are Swapo-led and hence doubts regarding legitimacy and before mentioned principles arise. A CDV-member just recently called the ECN “teethless dogs sic on a Swapo ticket”. Even though citizens have the right to examine and possibly file a protest, it barely happened in the past. The current director of the ECN Prof. Paul John Isaak was however welcomed by civil society organizations as legitimate and unbiased leader of that institution; so that may hint at a positive development.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia held so called election officials trainings prior to this election. But as those proceeded for an entire week, it was doubtful whether they will see satisfactory attendance by all political parties. Hence, the KAS in cooperation with Mrs. Carola Engelbrecht (Director of Citizens for an Accountable and Transparent Society CATS) organized several one-day workshops throughout the country. The workshops trained party’s election agents on basics for the upcoming elections and also discussing EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) and election processes.
Furthermore, technology and resultant new election processes are of importance when talking about elections. Last year’s Presidential and National Assembly elections were the first ones to be conducted with EVMs. This was an African novelty and Namibia set a milestone by doing so. This year’s elections will be held in the same manner. The EVMs are supposed to abolish irregularities and speed up the ballot- and counting-process.
Unfortunately, there were still long queues in front of polling stations and the counting process took several days till the final announcement of results last year. But the ECN is confident that those difficulties will be erased and declared that they are well prepared for the upcoming election. This is also due to the fact that thousands of trained election officials are put in place to help, assist and facilitate the smooth functioning of the elections.
The registration of voters was digitalized early this year; just another novelty. All biometric data was collected, so that the officials in the polling station can in the end verify registered voters via Voter Verification Devices (VVDs). This will, ideally, quicken the ballot, with the individual only spending three minutes in the polling station, according to the ECN.
Author: Ferdinand Rehder
