Over 1 million Namibians are set to cast their votes on November 27, 2024, in a highly anticipated general election that has drawn both local and international attention.
A total of 1,467,604 registered voters, out of a population exceeding 2.6 million, will head to the polls to elect their representatives.
Charlotte Osei, former Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission and a member of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM), has extended her wishes for a peaceful election. “Hello Namibia! As we count down to a most historic election, we pray for a peaceful, fair, and transparent process. Let’s do this,” she wrote in a social media post.
Hello Namibia! As we count down to a most historic election, we pray for a peaceful, fair and transparent process. Let’s do this 💪🏽#africanunion #aueom #electionsmatter #NamibiaDecides2024 pic.twitter.com/jhtdTV661Q
— Nana Ama (@char_osei) November 21, 2024
The AUEOM, deployed at the invitation of the Namibian government and the Electoral Commission of Namibia, is led by Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe Wandira, former Vice President of Uganda. The mission comprises 47 short-term observers drawn from African nations including Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria. These observers will monitor election procedures across Namibia’s 14 regions, assessing compliance with legal and international democratic standards such as the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance.
The mission aims to release a preliminary statement on November 30, 2024, followed by a comprehensive report within a month of the final election results.
Namibia’s amended electoral laws will also influence this year’s election. Key changes include provisions allowing public sector workers to use paid leave to campaign for National Assembly seats and enabling early retirement for elected public employees aged 55 or older. Additionally, individuals holding council positions must resign before assuming assembly roles.
In the last general election in 2019, the ruling SWAPO Party of Namibia secured 63 out of 96 seats, maintaining a dominant position in Namibian politics. Voter turnout was 61%. This year’s election will again see SWAPO face opposition from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), Landless People’s Movement (LPM), and smaller parties like the All People’s Party (APP) and Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), who are vying for increased representation in the National Assembly.
The Mother of all rallies is here. SWAPO is rounding off its campaign with a major Star Rally. We have marketed our Election Manifesto to the voters. We have visited every corner of this country. We have made our presence felt. Get ready to go and vote on November 27. pic.twitter.com/YLlr6uGbmp
— Namibia Today (@NamibiaToday) November 22, 2024
