NEFF sues ECN for N$6.7m over unlawful deregistration

THE Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) is seeking N$6.7 million from the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in damages following what it describes as an unlawful deregistration ahead of the 2024 national elections.

In a letter dated 13 March, written by lawyers from Kadhila Amoomo Legal Practitioners, the NEFF claims it would have secured more seats in parliament had it not been deregistered.

The letter was addressed to ECN chief referenda officer Petrus Shaama.

“Your decision to deregister our client caused not only a negative public perception but also an exodus of its members to other parties,” the lawyers wrote.

They argue that the deregistration created a negative public perception of the party, suggesting to voters that the NEFF could not be trusted, had misappropriated funds and effectively no longer existed as a political organisation.

The NEFF was deregistered after it allegedly failed to publish its financial reports as required in the Electoral Act.

The party later successfully challenged the deregistration in the High Court, but the legal victory came less than three months before the national elections, leaving the party little time to campaign effectively.

According to the letter, the damage caused by the deregistration had already taken its toll by the time the court ruling was issued.

The party ultimately secured only one seat in parliament, which it argues was far below its expected electoral performance.

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