The Media Ombudsman and other stakeholders hosted a media and elections monitoring tool validation workshop in Windhoek on Tuesday.

The one-day workshop was aimed at drawing input on the media monitoring tool, which will be used to gauge the media's performance in the coverage of all election-related activities.

Journalists and media outlets are reminded of their role as watchdogs who hold those in power accountable by shining a spotlight on issues of democracy. 

In addition, the media play a role in ensuring transparency and honesty in the electoral process.

There is much work expected of the Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission.

This is in line with the Year of Expectations and Elections, as declared by the late President Hage Geingob.

President Nangolo Mbumba emphasised this during the appointment of commissioners for the Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission.

Article 104 of the Namibian Constitution authorises the President to appoint a Boundaries Delimation and Demarcation Commission every 10 years. 

President Nangolo Mbumba engaged traditional leaders of the eight northern traditional authorities at Oshakati this morning.

The aim was to familiarise himself with traditional leaders, inform them officially that he had taken office as Head of State, and seek their blessings.

Swapo Party Politburo and Central Committee member, Lucia Witbooi, has urged party members to campaign for an outright majority in the November national elections. 

She made the call at the opening of the ||Kharas Swapo Party regional executive meeting in Keetmanshoop.

Witbooi further encouraged all eligible voters to re-register to participate in the upcoming elections.

The Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, says over the past 33 years, the Swapo Party-led government has delivered the most needed infrastructure development throughout the country.

She says the government has delivered educational and health infrastructure, roads, and other key elements with the potential to drive the socio-economic transformation of all Namibians.

Theofelus remarked this during a Swapo Party recruitment drive at Kalimbeza Village in the Zambezi Region, where she received 39 new members.

Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, says the police will soon start engaging critical stakeholders to map out ways on how best to collaborate and ensure a peaceful national election later this year.

The police chief says no unruly behaviour will be tolerated.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) assured the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo that elections will be held on Wednesday.

With just under 44 million registered voters, the 2023 ballot will see a combined 100,000 candidates compete on a presidential, legislative, and provincial level—almost three-fold more than 2018's 35,000 candidates.

26 candidates are vying for the presidency, while 27,000 will look to secure one of the 500 seats in parliament.

NUDO MP Josef Kauandenge has withdrawn his motion, which sort of contests the Constitution on the exclusion of or forces civil servants, regional councillors, and local councillors to resign if they want to stand for the National Assembly elections.

Kauandenge withdrew the motion following consultations with the Minister of Justice.

Members of Parliament have emphasised the importance of fairness in the electoral process while contributing to the motion tabled by NUDO's MP, Josef Kauandenge.

The debate was regarding discrimination against regional councils, local authority employees, and civil servants who wish to participate freely in parliamentary elections after resigning from their previous services. The Deputy Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, argued that it is unfair to require elected Members of Parliament to resign from their employment before they are officially sworn in as MPs.

The Swapo Party regional office in Zambezi was a scene of unhappiness after some members were left upset over the changed outcome of the district elections held last month.

The unhappiness surfaced after a directive to follow the political party's 50-50 gender representation policy following last month's elections for the positions of district information and mobilisation officer, district coordinator, and treasurer in the Katima Mulilo urban district.