GO VOTE: President Nangolo Mbumba speaking at Omuthiya yesterday. PHOTO: NAMIBIAN PRESIDENCY
GO VOTE: President Nangolo Mbumba speaking at Omuthiya yesterday. PHOTO: NAMIBIAN PRESIDENCY

Mbumba wants peaceful elections

Analyst urges media to hold parties accountable
The president has called for peaceful elections when Namibia votes in three months' time.
STAFF REPORTER
President Nangolo Mbumba has called on Namibians who are registered to vote to do so when the country’s elections take place on 27 November.

Voter apathy has been rife in past elections, with official figures indicating that more than 400 000 registered voters failed to vote during the 2019 polls. While delivering the keynote address at Omuthiya yesterday, Mbumba told the nation that “we have the important task of continuing with our democratic legacy".

“That in itself imposes responsibilities on all of us. In this vein, I thank those eligible voters who have registered to vote in the November elections. It is the patriotic duty of all of us to do so."

He added: “Please go and vote in a peaceful manner, without intimidation or fear. In so doing, you will contribute to the legacy of a peaceful and democratic Namibia which our founding fathers of the Namibian Constitution have bequeathed upon us".

Mbumba’s remarks come at a time when political parties are finalising their manifestos before launching them.

Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said it is essential to scrutinise whether the promises made in those manifestos are realistic within the current economic and political context. “Are there clear plans for how policies will be funded? Do the manifestos provide timelines for implementation? The specificity of the proposals is also important. Vague promises without clear implementation strategies often lack credibility,” he said.

He also urged the media to hold political parties accountable for past promises by comparing current manifestos with previous promises made by these parties.

“Have they delivered on past commitments? If not, why, and what are they doing differently now?” he questioned.

Kamwanyah further noted that the 2024 elections will be characterised by an unprecedented number of political parties and independent candidates, reflecting a growing fragmentation of the political landscape.

“This increase in candidates, including a notable rise in female candidates, indicates a shift towards greater inclusivity and a challenge to the traditional dominance of established parties,” he said.

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-21

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