In their tribute to Professor Gerhard Tötemeyer, the SADC Electoral Advisory Council and Electoral Commission of Namibia have lauded his contributions to the electoral landscape in the region.

In an independent Namibia, Professor Tötemeyer was a founding member of the advisory council and the first Director of Elections in Namibia between 1992 and 1998.

The late scholar made a significant contribution to the formulation of the Electoral Act and its reform.

ECN's current Chairperson, Elsie Nghikembua, revealed at a memorial service that the professor established a solid foundation by making the election system transparent, fair, and trustworthy.

As Tötemeyers' former mentee, Nghikembua says she was among many Namibians whom the professor inspired to carry the torch of democracy forward.

Representing the SADC Region, the Electoral Advisory Council stressed that the professor was considered family.

As a founding member of the council, Tötemeyer was among those who developed, reviewed, and implemented the electoral observation mission documents. 

The speakers called on Namibians to honour Tötemeyer's legacy by making sure that the system remains a beacon of democracy, fairness, and transparency.