Ally Angula still collecting signatures ahead of deadline
While some have cancelled plans to run as independent presidential candidates, Ally Angula says her campaign is on track to meet the 14 October deadline to ensure her name will appear on the ballots for the upcoming elections.Speaking to Namibian Sun this week, Angula - who requires 7 000 signatures from eligible voters - said she has amassed 80% of the required total and will register her candidacy by 10 October.
She said her bid to run as an independent candidate is genuine, adding that she will ensure she appears on the ballot paper. “We are on track to meet the signature requirements. We have done the work. We started working on 1 May,” she said.
“We have been pushing to go into the community and have conversations with people. So that when we needed to collect the signatures, people were already aware of me going into the election,” she explained.
“So, we are okay in terms of the numbers. We will start submitting the signatures; I think we should hopefully be done submitting by 10 October already, which is well ahead of the deadline of 14 October.”
Political intimidation, violence
Despite the progress, Angula claimed her efforts have been challenged by incidents of political intimidation and violence.
“It hasn’t been smooth sailing all the way. We have experienced challenges, but those challenges are predominantly from the political parties that don’t want to be challenged,” she said.
“In Nkurenkuru, we had nine forms confiscated. And on [those] nine forms, we [had] 171 signatures and we lost them in one move. Even when we involved the police, we only managed to recover one form and then the people were playing dumb,” she added.
ECN should act
Angula also called on the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to make it easier for people to register as independent candidates.
“Every time we get into a challenge, we share [it] with ECN. And I’m hoping that ECN can also make the process a little bit easier for independent candidates. Firstly, make the requirements the same [as for political parties],” she urged.
She is referring to the requirement that independent candidate must solicit at least 7 000 signatures from registered voters - 500 per region. However, registering a political party only requires 3 500 signatures - 500 each from a minimum of seven regions.
“Don’t have a double requirement for independent candidates. Secondly, if it’s your requirement, you must be able to protect people in the field that are collecting the signatures,” she stressed.
“Hold the parties accountable that are committing political violence against independent candidates and then penalise them.”
Changes needed
Angula also urged the ECN to do more to protect the interests of independent candidates, warning that if no action is taken, people will be discouraged from exercising their right to run independently.
“It should be something that the ECN is encouraging. But they don’t seem to be too interested in independent candidates,” she argued. “And for me, it’s a pity that we have other people who have failed to collect the required signatures and are pulling out. What it is going to do... for the 2029 election... [is] scare [off] independent candidates to not get involved in the race, and that’s not the intention of the election,” she noted.
“So, definitely, once I take office [if voted into power], it’s going to be one of the first things that I need to focus on to say we need to clarify this law. Make it open for people to participate.”
Food a sign of failure
Angula also commented on well-resourced political parties such as Swapo providing food to those attending their rallies, which she described as wrong.
“It’s a very bad practice; it does not allow for a person to hear the message. People are going there to be fed,” she said. “It also shows that they have failed. The fact that they are drawing big numbers of people who want to be fed, people who want to be entertained, people who cannot pay for their own entertainment, they cannot pay for their own food - it shows that they [Swapo have] failed.”
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She said her bid to run as an independent candidate is genuine, adding that she will ensure she appears on the ballot paper. “We are on track to meet the signature requirements. We have done the work. We started working on 1 May,” she said.
“We have been pushing to go into the community and have conversations with people. So that when we needed to collect the signatures, people were already aware of me going into the election,” she explained.
“So, we are okay in terms of the numbers. We will start submitting the signatures; I think we should hopefully be done submitting by 10 October already, which is well ahead of the deadline of 14 October.”
Political intimidation, violence
Despite the progress, Angula claimed her efforts have been challenged by incidents of political intimidation and violence.
“It hasn’t been smooth sailing all the way. We have experienced challenges, but those challenges are predominantly from the political parties that don’t want to be challenged,” she said.
“In Nkurenkuru, we had nine forms confiscated. And on [those] nine forms, we [had] 171 signatures and we lost them in one move. Even when we involved the police, we only managed to recover one form and then the people were playing dumb,” she added.
ECN should act
Angula also called on the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to make it easier for people to register as independent candidates.
“Every time we get into a challenge, we share [it] with ECN. And I’m hoping that ECN can also make the process a little bit easier for independent candidates. Firstly, make the requirements the same [as for political parties],” she urged.
She is referring to the requirement that independent candidate must solicit at least 7 000 signatures from registered voters - 500 per region. However, registering a political party only requires 3 500 signatures - 500 each from a minimum of seven regions.
“Don’t have a double requirement for independent candidates. Secondly, if it’s your requirement, you must be able to protect people in the field that are collecting the signatures,” she stressed.
“Hold the parties accountable that are committing political violence against independent candidates and then penalise them.”
Changes needed
Angula also urged the ECN to do more to protect the interests of independent candidates, warning that if no action is taken, people will be discouraged from exercising their right to run independently.
“It should be something that the ECN is encouraging. But they don’t seem to be too interested in independent candidates,” she argued. “And for me, it’s a pity that we have other people who have failed to collect the required signatures and are pulling out. What it is going to do... for the 2029 election... [is] scare [off] independent candidates to not get involved in the race, and that’s not the intention of the election,” she noted.
“So, definitely, once I take office [if voted into power], it’s going to be one of the first things that I need to focus on to say we need to clarify this law. Make it open for people to participate.”
Food a sign of failure
Angula also commented on well-resourced political parties such as Swapo providing food to those attending their rallies, which she described as wrong.
“It’s a very bad practice; it does not allow for a person to hear the message. People are going there to be fed,” she said. “It also shows that they have failed. The fact that they are drawing big numbers of people who want to be fed, people who want to be entertained, people who cannot pay for their own entertainment, they cannot pay for their own food - it shows that they [Swapo have] failed.”
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