Vox Pop

The Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN)) plan to hand-pick a company to print the ballot papers for the upcoming elections, instead of following the normal procurement process, has been widely rejected by political parties. Election Nexus solicited the views of the public on this matter and what they make of ECN’s proposal.



Gonzalez Fransisco

I believe the ECN's decision to directly select a company to print ballot papers raises serious concerns. I also feel this approach could undermine transparency and fairness in the election process.



Madikizela Meroro

What was the purpose of this shift in the first place? What drove them to make this decision? I feel the normal procurement procedures are in place to ensure competitive pricing and accountability, and bypassing them creates doubts about the integrity of the process.



Sarah Tsei-tseimou

Firstly, hand-picking a specific company is definitely going to raise suspicion. We would like to know on what basis was this company selected? By hand-picking a specific company, it's already going against the values the ECN is supposed to uphold, like transparency. The bidding system worked because it was 'fair' - at least the companies got a chance to present their proposals. This is unfair and going to raise doubt about how fair and free our election process really is.



Ingrid Booysen

Critics worry that bypassing these procedures might lead to favouritism or inefficiencies, potentially damaging trust in the electoral process. Others may support the move if it is seen as a time-saving measure, but overall, the opposition to this decision stems from the potential risks it poses to democratic integrity.