NAMIBIA-ELECTIONS: ALL ENDS WELL THAT STARTS WELL

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

LEWIS MACHIPISA

WINDHOEK, Dec 8 1994 (IPS) - VOTING ENDED THURSDAY IN NAMIBIA’S FIRST PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS SINCE ITS 1990 INDEPENDENCE, WITH OBSERVERS AND THE MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY DECLARING THEM FREE AND FAIR.

“WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE MANNER IN WHICH THE ELECTIONS WERE HELD,” SAID NICO SMIT, ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY OF THE OPPOSITION DEMOCRATIC TURNHALLE ALLIENCE (DTA). “SWAPO (SOUTH WEST AFRICA PEOPLE’S ORGANISATION) BEHAVED ITSELF AND WE ALSO BEHAVED OURSELVES. THE ELECTIONS WERE HELD IN VERY GOOD SPIRIT.”

ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS, PROFESSOR GERHADT TOTEMEYER, THERE WAS NOT ONE REPORT OF INTIMIDATION OR HARASSMENT.

“ON OUR PART, WE CONSIDER THE ELECTIONS FREE AND FAIR,” TOTEMEYER TOLD IPS.

THE ONLY COMPLAINT SEEMED TO BE THE SLOW PACE OF VOTING AND THE LONG QUEUES IN MOST POLLING STATIONS AROUND THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN NATION.

ABOUT 700,000 NAMIBIANS VOTED IN THE FIRST ELECTIONS SINCE ATTAINING SELF-RULE FROM SOUTH AFRICA AFTER 23 YEARS OF APARTHEID RULE.

FROM THE EIGHT PARTIES THAT CONTESTED, ONLY DTA FIELDED A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT TO CHALLENGE INCUMBENT PRESIDENT SAM NUJOMA.

IN THE 1990 ELECTIONS THAT BROUGHT INDEPENDENCE, SWAPO WON 42 OF THE 72 PARLIAMENTARY SEATS AND DTA WON 21. THIS TIME AROUND, SWAPO IS TIPPED TO INCREASE ITS HOLD ON POWER. PRELIMINARY RESULTS ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY.

THE ELECTIONS WERE MONITORED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OBSERVER GROUP, HEADED BY MALAWIAN JUSTICE ANASTASIA MSOSA. ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS IN THE GROUP, THE ELECTIONS WERE HELD IN A “GOOD” ATMOSPHERE.