WINDHOEK – The Electoral Commission of Namibia admits that the percentage increases as given at the completion of the supplementary voters registration were wrong but it says the figures are subject to verification.

It argues that incorrect calculation of percentages does not, however, give credence to DTA of Namibia’s claims that the figures are inflated and are not on par with the population growth rate.

“They [percentage count] are not correct. Maybe we could not just believe the increases of more than 200 percent. But as we said before the figures are subject to verification,” says Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Dr Rupee Tjingaete.

The figures that the ECN released last week featured incorrect percentage count increases in the number of people registered per each region compared to the 2004 elections, with the percentages being lower than the actual three-fold, and in some instances the quadruple, leap in voter registration numbers.

ECN gives percentage increase in total voters’ registration during supplementary registration of 2004 and 2009 as 71.7 percent. The actual increase is 252 percent, given that this year 290 000 people registered in the supplementary period compared to just over 80 000 people in 2004.

Nevertheless, Tjingaete says such ‘minor’ mistakes do not give support to the DTA’s claims that the rigging of election started with voters’ registration.

“As we said before, there are factors that led to higher number of voters registration this year,” says Tjingaete.

These include the born-frees, but most importantly, the “excitement in political environment is a contributing factor” with new political parties formed.

The other factor is the efforts of ECN’s voter education campaign this year.

“Never before did people register to vote as of now. There was political apathy. Now, because of the mushrooming of new political parties, there is excitement among voters. Political parties have also done their job to mobilise voters,” says Tjingaete.

DTA of Namibia says 69.9 percent of the population, or 1.3 million people out of 2.1 million people, could not possibly have registered to vote especially that the last census indicated that 50 percent of the population was under 16 years.

Tjingaete points out that in 2004, when the population was just about 2 million, nearly 50 percent or 979 000 people went to the polls. Statistically, the increase in registered voters between 2004 and now is a mere additional 400 000 people, this being those who did not vote then and the born-frees.

“If you look at it from that side, it makes sense, especially that the counting of actual voters who showed up at polling stations is more accurate than the census,” says Tjingaete.

In addition, Tjingaete reiterates that the voters’ roll will clear any double entry and political parties will have ample time to ensure that.

He urged political parties to pull up their socks in this elections because, unlike in the previous elections where they needed a handful of votes to get a seat, the required votes have doubled, due to the size of the registered voters.

New Era