WINDHOEK – Foreign observers have started arriving in Namibia to monitor next month’s elections.
Among those who are already in the country is a human rights group from Zambia. According to Director of Elections Phillemon Kanime, many countries have asked to observe the presidential, general and regional council elections.Namibia has invited various observers from countries and organisations including South Africa, Zambia, the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to help monitor the elections and increase voter confidence.In addition, at least three domestic groups have mobilised volunteers to monitor the elections, including the umbrella body of non-governmental organisations, Nangof.The South African-based Electoral Institute of Southern Africa and Electoral Commission Forum have confirmed that they will sending monitors to Namibia.Teams from SADC and the AU still have to confirm their participation.Face of RP ‘is changing’ WINDHOEK – The Republican Party (RP) has changed its “white image” by nominating 28 black and only seven white candidates for the Regional Council elections.Twenty black RP candidates and 10 whites will stand for the National Assembly elections.The Republican Party was formed by retired politician Dirk Mudge in September 1977 after breaking away from the National Party (NP), reportedly over the NP’s insistence on maintaining certain apartheid legislation in a proposed new constitution drawn up by the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference.It is trying to shed its conservative white image in order to reach mainstream voters.- NampaAccording to Director of Elections Phillemon Kanime, many countries have asked to observe the presidential, general and regional council elections.Namibia has invited various observers from countries and organisations including South Africa, Zambia, the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to help monitor the elections and increase voter confidence.In addition, at least three domestic groups have mobilised volunteers to monitor the elections, including the umbrella body of non-governmental organisations, Nangof.The South African-based Electoral Institute of Southern Africa and Electoral Commission Forum have confirmed that they will sending monitors to Namibia.Teams from SADC and the AU still have to confirm their participation. Face of RP ‘is changing’ WINDHOEK – The Republican Party (RP) has changed its “white image” by nominating 28 black and only seven white candidates for the Regional Council elections.Twenty black RP candidates and 10 whites will stand for the National Assembly elections.The Republican Party was formed by retired politician Dirk Mudge in September 1977 after breaking away from the National Party (NP), reportedly over the NP’s insistence on maintaining certain apartheid legislation in a proposed new constitution drawn up by the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference.It is trying to shed its conservative white image in order to reach mainstream voters.- Nampa
