Statement by Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, Dr. V. L Tonchi, on latest development concerning the ongoing verification and other related issues



30 November 2009

The Commission would like to take this opportunity to inform the nation about recent developments concerning the ongoing elections results verification process and other pertinent issues.

On behalf of the Electoral Commission of Namibia I wish to assure the Namibian nation that the process of results verification at various Constituency centres is going on very well. We are happy to note that results from about 13 Constituencies have already been certified and announced to the public while 4 Constituencies are being verified and audited before certification and announcement.

I further wish to inform the nation that the process of results verification requires understanding of the process and patience from all of us. The Commission is fully aware that the nation is waiting to know the final outcome of the 2009 Presidential & National Assembly elections. It is however of utmost importance to ensure that all verification is done in a systematic and methodical manner. The Commission would thus not rush the process of results verification process as it may compromise the integrity of the process and quality of the returns.

Every one of us is thus reminded to remain calm and follow announcement of the certified results on NBC TV and all radio language services as they come in.

The verification process is thus not only an important aspect of the election process but it’s actually a requirement of the Electoral Act and should not be underestimated. The ECN has not created any verification centres as alleged by a local newspaper. The statements made by some media and commentators alleging delays in the release of the results are incorrect and unwarranted.

The ECN wish to rebuke in the strongest terms the deliberate campaign of misinformation been engineered by some irresponsible individuals and media houses. The ECN is aware of false unauthorised results that are being circulated by organised syndicates with the intention to discredit the election process and destroying the image of the ECN and paralyse the country. Unfortunately, for them, we are an or an organised society and our people will not fall for such deceitful acts.

I wish to illustrate the deliberate campaign of misinformation by citing a number of results published in The Namibia of 30th November 2009. The statistical reflections of the votes cast at certain polling stations are erroneous and misleading.

The Namibian reported that the Ohalushu Combined School polling station in Endola Constituency the RDP recorded 3 600 votes and the SWAPO Party 2 votes. The true facts based on the return from the Returning Officer is that a total of 802 votes were cast at the polling station and allocated as follows;

National Assembly

NUDO – 1

RDP – 156

RP – 2

SWAPO PARTY – 639

SWANU – 1

REJECTED VOTES - 3

Another example reflected in the newspaper is the Omafa polling stations were only SWAPO PARTY and RDP is said to have received votes, SWAPO PARTY 499 and RDP 510. In actual fact the results are as follows:

Total votes counted - 331

Communist Party – 1

RDP – 3

SWAPO Party – 326

UDF – 1

REJECTED – 3

The other ten parties got zero votes.

The ECN thus wish to issue a stern warning to those circulating unverified results and remind them of the very serious consequences they stand to face as provided for in the law. The ECN is also aware of websites that are being created with the intention of posting false and unverified elections result.

The ECN has only one interest at heart and that is to deliver an election that is not only free and fair but also credible and transparent. Lastly I wish to once again appeal to all our citizens to be calm and patient so that as a people we can collectively see this process to its logical conclusion.

With these few remarks, I thank you and please keep watching the results.