Several opposition parties are refusing to approve Gerson Sindano’s appointment as electoral commission chairperson until parliament provides all documentation underpinning his nomination.
Sindano, who is currently an Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) commissioner, is serving a term that runs until June 2027.
The term of the current ECN chairperson expires on 16 September.
The other nominees for commissioner positions are Emmerentia Leonard and Julieta Ferreira.
Affirmative Repositioning (AR) member of parliament Job Amupanda has filed an urgent application to the High Court seeking to stop parliament from voting on the appointment of Sindano and the approval of other commissioners today.
In an affidavit filed yesterday, Amupanda asked the court to order that members of parliament be provided with the interview minutes, applicants’ score sheets and the selection committee’s recommendations before any voting takes place.
He says lawmakers cannot make an informed decision without access to the documents underpinning the nominations.
Addressing a joint press conference at parliament yesterday, opposition leaders said they would not be rushed into approving nominees while questions remain over the recommendation and nomination process that led to president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s appointments.
They also raised concerns over Sindano’s previous role as a personal assistant to Swapo’s secretary general, arguing it could undermine public confidence in the independence of the electoral body.
Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani yesterday said the opposition’s stance is aimed at protecting the integrity of the parliament and ensuring constitutional procedures are followed.
“If you are bringing a person nominated by the president, that person must be scrutinised by the House. If the ruling party keeps calling for a vote instead of allowing debate, you are imposing a vote without reason,” he said.
Venaani said the parliament should encourage compromise and meaningful debate rather than relying solely on voting.
He urged the president and the ruling party to engage the opposition, saying the government no longer enjoys an overwhelming majority and should seek consensus on important appointments.
Official opposition leader Imms Nashinge accused National Assembly speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila of allowing the unfair treatment of opposition members.
“We are here to represent the Namibian people. We are all equal, yet we are being forced to advance the agenda of the ruling party,” he said.
Nashinge described the process as undemocratic and said the opposition would not be “bulldozed” into approving appointments without proper scrutiny.
AR chief whip Vaino Hangula yesterday said the opposition only received the president’s signed nomination letters after filing a High Court demand for the documents.
However, he said they still require the interview score sheets and other records before considering the nominations.
“The so-called opposition is being blamed for the parliament’s inefficiency, but it is the inconsistency and manipulation by the ruling party that is causing these problems. If their only tool is to call for a vote, we also have lawful means to challenge that,” he said.
National Unity Democratic Organisation secretary general Vetaruhe Kandorozu says his party also opposes the nominations until the interview score cards and supporting documents are made available.
“The arrogance of assuming a two-third majority must come to an end. There must be compromise in the House,” he says.
