DPN Questions Appointment of ECN Commissioners

Catherine Sasman

20 June 2011

The Democratic Party of Namibia (DPN) wants the release and publication of the names of candidates that applied to serve as commissioners to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).

The party said it is in the national interest that the recruitment process of the ECN be as independent and impartial as possible.

“[The] DPN holds the view that some qualified and competent individuals could susceptibly be excluded from the published 15 candidates,” the party said.

It said the shortlisting of two currently serving commissioners, Lazarus Shatipamba and Notemba Tjipueja, put the ECN in an “awkward position”, because it is not clear how they were selected, “given the fact that the Namibian institution of Government is highly politicised in favour of the party in power”.

Equally, it said, their shortlisting should be viewed in the context of the disputed 2009 National Assembly elections “that turned sour under their watch”.

“The selection process for appointing election commissioners should be transparent and impartial,” said Timoteus Pieter, the DPN secretary of information and political publicity.

He said the selection should be based on a consensus of the political parties contesting the elections and individuals with the relevant experience and expertise and who have a reputation for independence and integrity.

He charged that the “dealings and operations” of the selection committee is “secretive”, and posed the question if the general public should not be entitled to know who the members of the selection committee are.

According to law, one staff member of the Supreme Court or High Court nominated by the Chief Justice, will be a member of this committee.

The DPN said this is contrary to the Namibian Constitution, as the ECN forms part of the executive branch of government, and thus separate from the judiciary.

It said the consolidated electoral Act is “too vague, and thus prone to manipulation and/or misinterpretation”.

“The composition of the ECN is a much contentious and debated topic, however, no consensus was ever reached in our political dispensation. Consequently, there exists at this very point in time a legitimate expectation on the part of the Namibian government to act swiftly to address and mitigate the dissatisfaction prevalent regarding the composition of our electoral management body,” stated Pieter.

Pieter was of the opinion that it is “only governing party loyalists” that are employed at the ECN, “at the grave detriment of genuine stakeholders, which generally make electoral operations [the] exclusive domain of the incumbent party”.

The DPN said it wants an all-inclusive Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) that will bring about “critical” electoral reforms.

These reforms include an updated and accurate voters’ roll, freedom of the media guarantees, equal access by all political parties to State media.

The party further calls for a repeal of all legislation that hinders free political activity, and said the ECN should be fully independent, adequately resourced, professional in its approach and dealings with all the shareholders that renders it capable of fully discharging its mandate, “instead of one that is budgeting to face further electoral litigation and possible fresh elections”.

AllAfrica – All the Time