The Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC countries (ECF-SADC) says the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) appears to be ready to conduct the 2024 elections. 

This was contained in a report issued following ECF-SADC's PreElection Assessment Mission to Namibia from the 16th to 20th of this month.

The pre-assessment mission was led by the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Justice Priscilla Chigumba.

The aim of the mission was to technically assess the preparedness of the Electoral Commission of Namibia to hold credible elections come November 27th.

The other was to ascertain the extent to which the 2019 recommendations by the ECF-SADC Observer Mission have been considered.

Despite the challenges faced, the ECN, according to the feedback, has expressed its readiness to deliver credible elections. 

It further noted that ECN had taken into consideration most of the recommendations that the ECF-SADC observer mission made in 2019. 

These included the need for the establishment of a formal communication platform between ECN and its stakeholders, particularly the CSO sector, including youth organisations, and for it to consider strengthening voter education initiatives.

The mission praised the technological advancements by ECN, in particular the introduction of an integrated  election management system and the use of tablets during polling days as positive developments in innovative elections. 

It also lauded the use of youth ambassadors who may have contributed to increased youth registration. 

Other positive observations made by the mission were the adequate funding ECN facilitates, the recruitment of unemployed youth as polling staff, the recruitment of regional officials to decentralise electoral services, and the proposed signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ECN and the police sector on the security arrangements.

In its recommendation, the mission, amongst others, wants ECN to invest in the use of political party liaison committees as an alternative dispute resolution platform and to use political party liaison committees throughout the electoral cycle, not on the eve of elections.

They also suggest electoral reforms that propose a timeframe for the conclusion of nomination-related cases ahead of the election date and a timeline within which election results may be announced.

The mission also concluded its observation by asking for the use of alternative media platforms like community radio stations for rural communities who may not have access to online.