The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has officially withdrawn its election observers from the production and printing process of ballot papers for the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
This move follows the party's formal objection to the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN) decision to award the ballot paper tender to the South African company, Ren-Form CC.
In a letter addressed to ECN Chairperson Elsie Nghikembua, PDM Secretary General Manuel Ngaringombe expressed the party’s "grave concerns" over the credibility of Ren-Form CC.
The company is currently under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission of Zimbabwe for inflating prices for election materials in the 2023 Zimbabwean General Elections.
Ngaringombe highlighted the ECN's failure to "perform due diligence before awarding the contract to Ren-Form, raising concerns about the integrity of Namibia's electoral process."
He emphasised that elections, as the foundation of democracy, must be free, fair, and inspire public confidence—standards which PDM believes have been compromised by the ECN's decision.
“The decision to award this tender to a company tainted by corruption is irrational and undermines the public’s trust in the ECN’s ability to administer free and fair elections,” the PDM stated.
Ngaringombe further noted that the ECN's actions directly contradict the Commission’s constitutional mandate to manage and control elections impartially.
The PDM has instructed its legal team to demand the setting aside of the tender award to Ren-Form. Should the ECN fail to comply, the party has vowed to take urgent legal action in the High Court of Namibia.
The PDM’s objection adds to mounting concerns from other political parties, including the LPM, IPC, and Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), who have also raised alarms over potential irregularities in the tender process.
These parties have called on the Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia and the media to investigate the matter thoroughly to ensure transparency ahead of the elections.
Daniel Nadunya