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ECN’s 'administrative precarity’ worries analysts

Handling of issue 'doesn't inspire confidence'
Experts called on the electoral body to improve its communication and administrative affairs in order to safeguard the credibility of electoral processes.
Mathias Haufiku
Political and governance experts cautioned that the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN) decision to cancel a ballot printing tender could put the credibility of the upcoming elections in jeopardy.

The bidding process, which was due to close tomorrow, was cancelled to prevent “factors which may negatively affect the timely delivery of the ballot papers”. To the surprise of political parties represented by the Parties Liaison Committee (PLC), they received an invitation on Saturday evening from ECN to attend a meeting that took place yesterday where the commission communicated its decision.

PLC insiders lamented the manner in which ECN handled the matter, saying “the meeting lacked all elements of consultations because ECN merely communicated its decision to the parties instead of seeking input”.



Undermined trust

Election Nexus gauged the views of several analysts on the new development.

Institute for Public Policy Research executive director Graham Hopwood said “the way the ECN has handled the ballot paper issue doesn't inspire confidence in their planning abilities”.

“The timelines involved here should have been obvious from past experiences with the printing of ballots. Now they have undermined the parties' - and possibly the public's - trust in the electoral process by changing plans at such a late stage in the electoral process,” he opined.

Meanwhile, political analyst Rui Tyitende says ECN had ample time to get its administrative affairs in order “to avoid running around at the last minute”.

“Heads need to roll because you cannot have an institution that is central in managing our elections but they cannot get the basics right. Perception matters and it needs to be managed at all times,” he said.

Public policy expert Dr Marius Kudumo called for enhanced communication levels between ECN and all stakeholders to avoid communication mishaps.

“ECN needs to consult with political parties and also inform the public constantly in terms of what is happening. Withdrawing the tender, if there were good reasons, creates the impression that you are not in charge of the process,” he said. “I do not understand why lawmakers are not looking at the limitations within the procurement act. It is those limitations ECN wanted to manage, but you cannot manage it without consultation. Everything needs to be done according to the electoral calendar.”

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-07

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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 666.34/OZ UP +0.08% | Copper US$ 4.34/lb UP +2.63% | Zinc US$ 3 072.00/T UP 3.09% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 74.83/BBP DOWN -0.0089 | Platinum US$ 977.67/OZ DOWN -0.0067 Sport results: Premier League: Fulham 2 vs 1 Brentford Weather: Katima Mulilo: 22° | 36° Rundu: 20° | 31° Eenhana: 21° | 31° Oshakati: 21° | 31° Ruacana: 20° | 31° Tsumeb: 19° | 26° Otjiwarongo: 18° | 23° Omaruru: 20° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 19° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 12:28, High tide: 06:39, Low Tide: 00:56, High tide: 18:52 Swakopmund: 15° | 18° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:37, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:50 Walvis Bay: 15° | 24° Wind speed: 23km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:36, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:49 Rehoboth: 20° | 30° Mariental: 22° | 35° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 36° Aranos: 20° | 34° Lüderitz: 14° | 24° Ariamsvlei: 22° | 36° Oranjemund: 15° | 24° Luanda: 25° | 27° Gaborone: 19° | 27° Lubumbashi: 17° | 33° Mbabane: 13° | 24° Maseru: 12° | 25° Antananarivo: 14° | 30° Lilongwe: 22° | 29° Maputo: 19° | 26° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 22° Durban: 16° | 23° Johannesburg: 15° | 26° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 31° Lusaka: 20° | 31° Harare: 17° | 30° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 22.44 | EUR to NAD 18.73 | CNY to NAD 2.43 | USD to NAD 17.41 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.26 | EGP to NAD 0.34 | KES to NAD 0.13 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.64 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.07 | RUB to NAD 0.18 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 132.99 | USD to AOA 909.05 | USD to BWP 13.4 | USD to EGP 49.23 | USD to KES 129.2 | USD to NGN 1668.91 | USD to ZAR 17.41 | USD to ZMW 26.9 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index Same 0 | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1858.03 Down -1.09% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 14296.93 Down -0.02% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 31045.26 Up +0.82% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI 9878.53 Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 666.34/OZ UP +0.08% | Copper US$ 4.34/lb UP +2.63% | Zinc US$ 3 072.00/T UP 3.09% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 74.83/BBP DOWN -0.0089 | Platinum US$ 977.67/OZ DOWN -0.0067