A Namibian court has granted two opposition parties access to election materials following claims of irregularities in the country’s recent presidential and parliamentary elections, held on November 27.
The ruling party, SWAPO (South West Africa People’s Party), secured victory in both elections, extending its 34-year hold on power. However, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) filed a legal request to inspect election data, alleging discrepancies and considering a potential legal challenge to the results.
On Friday, Namibia’s electoral court directed the electoral commission to provide the requested information, including vote counts and documentation from each polling station, by next week.
The election faced logistical issues, including ballot paper shortages and technical problems, leading to polling stations remaining open for up to three days in some areas. Despite these challenges, the electoral commission declared the vote free and fair.
President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the country’s first female president, has dismissed allegations of a flawed election and is set to take office in March.