Namibians cast their e-votes

NAMIBIANS voted yesterday in a general election billed as Africa’s first evote, with the ruling party expected to retain power in the country it has run since independence.

Voting began at 7am across country.

The ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation – better known as Swapo – was forged from the embers of the anti-colonial and anti-apartheid struggle and has won every election in the 24 years since Namibia’s independence.

Ahead of election day, foreign minister and senior Swapo party official Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah told reporters victory was inevitable this

the time around as well.

Stations are due to close after 14 hours of voting.

Around 1.2-million Namibians are eligible to cast their ballots at nearly 4 000 electronic voting places across the vast desert nation.

Namibians will choose 96 members of the national assembly and one of nine presidential candidates.

Current Prime Minister Hage Geingob, the man almost certain to be named the next president when the final tally is in, cast his vote in the Windhoek township of Katutura.

Opposition parties had launched an 11th-hour court challenge to stop the vote from going ahead, saying the use

at 9pm of Indian-made e-voting machines could facilitate vote-rigging.

But the Windhoek High Court dismissed the application on Wednesday.

The key test of yesterday’s vote will be whether Swapo can match its 75% haul at the last elections.

Attracting female voters with a vow that almost half of its parliamentarians will be women, may help.

Rosa Namises, a feminist and politician, said the timing was suspicious.

“It is surprising that after so many years, four months or so ago, Swapo has been calling for 50/50, just before elections. For me it is a vote-buying tool.” — AFP