PDM, Swanu kick off manifesto season
Swapo set for weekend electoral college
Only Swanu and PDM have launched their manifestos so far, while other parties are still playing hide and seek with voters left in the dark.
With just under three months remaining until the national elections, most political parties are still scrambling to get their houses in order when it comes to launching their manifestos and finalising their parliamentary lists.
Last time around, all contesting political parties launched their manifestos within the two months preceding the election.
So far, out of the 20 registered political parties, only the South West Africa National Union (Swanu) and the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) have released their election blueprints. None of the parties have held their conventions to select representatives for the National Assembly.
When voters get ready to cast their vote, the manifestos of those parties will inform which party they choose to elect into power.
Campaign focus
Swanu president Evilastus Kaaronda, while launching the party manifesto last weekend, said the party will focus its attention on improving the country’s health and education systems and growing the rural economy if granted the mandate by the voters to lead the country.
On his part, PDM president McHenry Venaani vowed to address the country’s unemployment and housing crises.
On the agriculture front, Venaani said his party will ensure that 10% of the national budget be allocated to food production.
Informed choices
In its 2019 report on election manifestos, the Institute for Public Policy and Research (IPPR) warned that the late publication of manifestos – in some cases, less than three weeks before the election, or not at all – restricts access to information for voters, as they are left with a limited amount of time to fully appraise themselves of the promises of the contesting political parties.
The ACTION Coalition has decried this trend, stating that “political parties have been slow to release their manifestos, which does not provide adequate time for voters to make informed choices as to the party they vote for.
IPPR said Namibian political parties often focus on elections as an event and focus their communications on the campaign period rather than viewing their communications in line with the entire electoral cycle.
“The electorate, as part of its right to participate in political activity, needs to be informed on how political parties and political candidates are addressing the key issues that come up in society and in parliament," the IPPR noted.
"They need to know that the party they voted for – win or lose – is dedicated to fighting for the issues they said they would fight for. They need to be engaged earnestly, and on an ongoing basis. And they need promises to be coupled with action," the IPPR added.
As for the electoral college, Swapo Party will be first out of the blocks with its electoral college slated to take place this coming weekend in the capital.
Last time around, all contesting political parties launched their manifestos within the two months preceding the election.
So far, out of the 20 registered political parties, only the South West Africa National Union (Swanu) and the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) have released their election blueprints. None of the parties have held their conventions to select representatives for the National Assembly.
When voters get ready to cast their vote, the manifestos of those parties will inform which party they choose to elect into power.
Campaign focus
Swanu president Evilastus Kaaronda, while launching the party manifesto last weekend, said the party will focus its attention on improving the country’s health and education systems and growing the rural economy if granted the mandate by the voters to lead the country.
On his part, PDM president McHenry Venaani vowed to address the country’s unemployment and housing crises.
On the agriculture front, Venaani said his party will ensure that 10% of the national budget be allocated to food production.
Informed choices
In its 2019 report on election manifestos, the Institute for Public Policy and Research (IPPR) warned that the late publication of manifestos – in some cases, less than three weeks before the election, or not at all – restricts access to information for voters, as they are left with a limited amount of time to fully appraise themselves of the promises of the contesting political parties.
The ACTION Coalition has decried this trend, stating that “political parties have been slow to release their manifestos, which does not provide adequate time for voters to make informed choices as to the party they vote for.
IPPR said Namibian political parties often focus on elections as an event and focus their communications on the campaign period rather than viewing their communications in line with the entire electoral cycle.
“The electorate, as part of its right to participate in political activity, needs to be informed on how political parties and political candidates are addressing the key issues that come up in society and in parliament," the IPPR noted.
"They need to know that the party they voted for – win or lose – is dedicated to fighting for the issues they said they would fight for. They need to be engaged earnestly, and on an ongoing basis. And they need promises to be coupled with action," the IPPR added.
As for the electoral college, Swapo Party will be first out of the blocks with its electoral college slated to take place this coming weekend in the capital.
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