As Namibia gears up for its seventh election since independence on November 27, 2024, a significant decline in public trust toward the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has been noted, dropping by 29 percentage points over the last ten years.
Recent findings from the Afrobarometer Round 10 survey show that while a substantial 74% of Namibians favor electing their leaders through regular, transparent, and fair elections, only 45% express confidence in the ECN. Alarmingly, just 16% of respondents report high levels of trust in the commission, a stark contrast to the 74% who expressed trust in 2014. Although Namibians have more faith in the ECN than the Southern African Development Community’s average of 41%, this trust is still lower compared to the military (56%), police (56%), and judicial systems (52%).
Despite the dip in confidence in the ECN, a majority of citizens—66%—believe that the last national election, held in 2019, was largely free and fair. Notably, individuals who trust the ECN are significantly more likely to perceive the 2019 election positively, with 72% viewing it as fair, compared to just 61% of those lacking trust in the commission. Additionally, 90% of Namibians feel empowered to vote for their chosen candidates without facing pressure.
The upcoming election holds significant implications for Namibia’s democratic trajectory, especially following the previous election in 2019, which saw the ruling SWAPO party lose its two-thirds majority in Parliament for the first time since 1994. The party’s presidential candidate, the late Hage Geingob, also experienced a notable decline in his electoral support, dropping from 87% in 2014 to 56%.
The 2019 election was marred by various challenges, including the absence of a voter-verified paper audit trail, the loss of electronic voting machines, and limited communication from the ECN regarding these issues. There were also concerns about campaign financing and notably low voter turnout among young people. While the Namibian Supreme Court did not annul the election results, it ruled that electronic voting without a voter-verified paper trail is unconstitutional, leading to a return to manual ballot papers for the 2024 election.
To ensure a clean voter registry and eliminate irregularities, all voters are required to re-register for the upcoming election. This new mandate has intensified public scrutiny and skepticism toward the ECN, raising fears of possible voter disenfranchisement, particularly among older and rural populations who may struggle to access registration centers.
As Namibia approaches this crucial electoral period, the effective management of the electoral process will be vital in restoring and maintaining public trust in the democratic system. Independent and impartial actions by electoral management bodies are essential to prevent electoral conflicts and uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
