Members of the Landless Peoples' Movement (LPM) stormed into the Keetmanshoop Police Station last night after one of their members alerted them that the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) officials were allegedly offloading sensitive election material without the presence of party officials.

 

They claimed the move was compromising the fair outcome of the Keetmanshoop Rural Constituency election scheduled for Monday.

 

They insisted on the senior police officials opening the office and vowed to camp in front of the office, where the alleged sensitive material was apparently locked up in until they were granted access to do an inspection.

 

The group also claimed people were locked into the room, whom they maintain were allegedly tampering with the election material.

 

Reinforcement of the Police Special Reserve Force members had to be called to the police station to handle a possibly explosive situation where the LPM wanted to see the alleged election materials, which were apparently locked into an office at the police station.

 

After marathon negotiations between the police and the LPM members, including party leaders and Members of Parliament Bernadus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb, it was agreed they could remain at the premises until the inspection was done in the presence of ECN officials this morning.

 

Members of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) later joined the LPM.

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Luqman Cloete