The parliament is scrutinising president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s nomination of Gerson Sindano as Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) chairperson amid the opposition’s demands for transparency and threats of legal action.
Parliamentarian Pohamba Shifeta yesterday confirmed that the president put forth the nomination.
This comes amid calls for transparency over Sindano’s nomination and potential approval as ECN chairperson.
Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda yesterday demanded access to documents relating to the selection process, calling on the parliament to postpone the vote and threatening urgent court action if it proceeds before the records are released.
“The president nominated Gerson Sindano and two other commissioners after interviews conducted by the selection committee on recommendation.
The National Assembly must now discuss and approve the appointment of those nominated,” Shifeta, who chairs the parliamentary standing committee on constitutional and legal affairs, yesterday told The Namibian.
He said all the requirements of the Electoral Act 5 of 2014 have been fully complied with.
Shifeta said the committee consists of the chairperson of the Public Service Commission, who serves as chairperson, the chairperson of the Council of the Law Society of Namibia, the chairperson of the Public Accountants’ and Auditors’ Board, the registrar of the High Court, and the director of the Namibia Qualifications Authority.
Sindano, who is currently an ECN commissioner, remains in office until 21 June 2027, while the term of the current chairperson expires on 16 September.
The nomination has drawn objection from several opposition parties.
Through his lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo, Amupanda wrote to speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, arguing that members of parliament cannot make an informed decision without access to the documents relating to the selection process.
“Without these records, our client cannot properly exercise his constitutional duty as a member of parliament to make an informed decision on the appointments,” the letter states.
Amupanda also requested a written undertaking that the vote would not proceed until the documents had been provided.
Lawyers representing the speaker have since agreed that the relevant documents would be made available to all members of the National Assembly.
The undertaking is contained in a civil litigation document, which The Namibian has seen, and which Ministry of Justice spokesperson Edmund ||Khoaseb confirmed yesterday.
In a response government attorney Nelao Alexander signed, the government rejected allegations that the process was unlawful or lacked transparency, while reserving its legal rights.
Landless People’s Movement parliamentarian Eneas Emvula said the objections were not directed at Sindano personally but at the executive’s increasing failure to subject appointments to meaningful parliamentary scrutiny.
He said the parliament has a constitutional duty to interrogate whether appointments comply with the Constitution and the Electoral Act, particularly regarding appointment procedures, tenure and transparency.
Independent Patriots for Change parliamentarian Abed Hishoono also questioned whether a serving commissioner can lawfully be appointed chairperson without a transparent selection process.
He warned that approving the nomination before resolving the legal concerns could expose the ECN to future court challenges and undermine confidence in the country’s electoral institutions.
“My position is not a judgement on Sindano personally but a defence of the integrity, independence and credibility of Namibia’s electoral institutions,” Hishoono said.
