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Friday, January 21, 2005 - Web posted at 8:06:22 GMT Nangof calls for electoral system overhaul LINDSAY DENTLINGERCIVIL society organisations have called for a thorough overhaul of the country's electoral system in the wake of a High Court challenge of the results of November's presidential and national assembly elections. |
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The Namibia Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (Nangof), representing nearly 100 local organisations, said yesterday that as the matter was sub judice it would not pronounce its position on the information contained in court affidavits. However, it suggested that Namibia could put in place more cost-effective and speedy measures for resolving election disputes. "Election disputes of this nature are not unique to our country ... it happens in virtually all democracies. However, the manner in which we respond to and choose to handle such issues is most critical," Sandi Tjaronda, Nangof's Board Chairperson, told a press conference in Windhoek yesterday. Nangof said it was prepared to assist in revamping the Electoral Act to deal with a number of problems that emerged during the last elections. After the November polls, Nangof declared the process as having been "free and fair", despite what it termed "various administrative glitches and avoidable human errors, which clouded the electoral process". Since then Nangof says it has taken note of the discovery of ballot papers dumped at Okahandja and the issues raised by the CoD and the RP in their pending court case, which brought the credibility of those involved in the process (including Nangof), into disrepute. "We submit that there is a need to establish and implement a more cost-effective management structure to operate during the post-election period, in addition to recourse to the appropriate jurisdiction, in order to facilitate the speedy settlement of election disputes," said Tjaronda. Nangof said it would await the court's pronouncement on the alleged irregularities before adjusting its position on the fairness of the election process. John Nakuta, who headed Nangof's election observation team under the Namibia Civil Society Observation Coalition, added yesterday that although the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) makes provision for handling disputes, it cannot be forced to do so and ultimately the courts are the only sure recourse for complainants.Nakuta cited the South African example of setting up a dispute resolution body in all provinces, which can be approached to lodge complaints related to elections. Nangof further said that outside observers and monitors did not add any value to the Namibian electoral process and that the country should rather consider increasing its own monitors, who would have more clout in the electoral process. "Namibia is not an island unto itself. All over the world people make use of monitors," said Nakuta. "[In those countries] they have a greater say than observers who come from all over because they have a direct say and interest in the conduct of elections." Nangof added that they were "disturbed" by the fact that Namibia failed to comply with regional standards for staging elections. The organisation cited as an example the SADC Principles for Elections Management, Monitoring and Observation (PEMMO), which stipulate that voting should be completed within one day, and counting should last only two days. He said Namibia's laws do not prescribe that Government adhere to these provisions. Nangof's election monitoring team consisted of 250 representatives of Sister Namibia, the Rainbow Project (TRP), the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), Breaking the Wall of Silence (BWS), !Nara Training Centre, the Forum for the Future (FFF) and the Working Group of Indigenous Minorities in Southern Africa (Wimsa). The observers were deployed in all regions. |
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