President Nangolo Mbumba has firmly defended the credibility of the 2024 elections, dismissing claims by opposition leaders Dr. Panduleni Itula and Bernadus Swartbooi as baseless. In his answering affidavit filed ahead of Monday’s Supreme Court hearing, Mbumba argued that the opposition’s complaints stem from their defeat at the polls rather than any legitimate irregularities.
The court case, set to begin on Monday, centres on an application filed by Itula and Swartbooi challenging the results of the November presidential election. The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) declared Swapo candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah the winner with over 600,000 votes, far ahead of Itula’s 284,106 and Swartbooi’s 51,160 votes.
The opposition leaders allege that the election was marred by irregularities, particularly an unlawful extension of voting days through a presidential decree. They argue that this move unfairly influenced the outcome and violated electoral laws. However, Mbumba and the ruling Swapo Party have rejected these claims, maintaining that the elections were conducted lawfully and transparently.
In his affidavit, Mbumba emphasized that neither Itula nor Swartbooi has disputed the vote count, the scrutiny of ballots, or the mathematical accuracy of the results. Instead, their grievances focus on the extension of voting in 36 polling stations, which the president and Swapo officials argue was necessary to ensure all eligible citizens could cast their votes.
Swapo Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa and President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah have also weighed in, accusing Itula of preemptively rejecting the election results. They claim that the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader declared on November 30, before the official results were announced, that his party would not accept the outcome.
Swartbooi, leader of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), has taken a more philosophical approach, likening the election outcome to the “fruits of a poisonous tree.” He contends that any result derived from unlawful actions, including the extension of voting, is inherently invalid.
Both opposition leaders are calling for the nullification of ballots cast during the extended voting period, arguing that President Mbumba exceeded his authority by altering the election timeline. However, Swapo and the ECN maintain that the extension was a lawful and necessary measure to uphold the democratic process.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments, the case has drawn significant public attention, with many Namibians awaiting a resolution to the contentious dispute. The court’s decision could have far-reaching implications for the country’s electoral framework and political landscape.