The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) says it has rectified ballot paper discrepancies and the correct amount of ballot papers were delivered early on Tuesday morning.
ECN chief electoral and referenda officer Peter Shaama said this in a statement on Tuesday.
The consignment of ballot papers was delivered at Hosea Kutako International Airport.
“All the costs of printing the additional ballot papers were borne by the contracted supplier.
Upon arrival, the consignment was transported to the ECN logistics store under police escort for verification, allocation and packing according to the respective constituencies and local authorities,” he said.
This follows on the discovery of shortages and duplication of ballot papers at a government warehouse on Friday last week.
Shaama said the process of verification, packing and allocation commenced in the afternoon in the presence of representatives of political parties, organisations, associations and candidates.
The discrepancies were noted for some constituencies and local authorities in the Kavango West, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Kunene, Erongo and Khomas regions, impacting the quantities required at specific polling stations.
The dispatch of all sensitive election materials to the affected regions will commence on Wednesday under police escort.
“Verification of sensitive materials is expected to take place at all regional police stations on arrival in the respective regions,” Shaama said.
These election materials, he added, will be safely stored at the police stations until the day of deployment on 23 November, in preparation for special voting on 24 and 25 November in preparation for the main election day on 26 November.
However, Landless People’s Movement authorised representative Ivan Skrywer criticised the rectification due to the ECN’s failure to consult political parties.
“They went on and ordered new ballots without consulting us, we do not trust ECN and the whole process is a mess,” he said.
Popular Democratic Movement secretary general Manuel Ngaringombe also expressed disappointment in the ECN, for failing to consult the party.
According to Skrywer, media reporters who were at the warehouse for the arrival of the consignment were escorted out of the meeting by the police as the meeting was meant to be closed-door.
Skrywer described this move as worrisome, saying it points to a lack of transparency by the ECN by trying to keep the meeting secret.
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