PDM blasts ECN over ballot tender
The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has joined the bandwagon of Namibian political parties who are against the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN) plan to 'hand-pick' a company to print ballot papers for this year's presidential and National Assembly elections.
During the party’s electoral college held over the weekend, PDM president McHenry Venaani said the proposal by the commission leaves room for election rigging.
"We are saying no to this because we know that this has been a contentious issue in this country. [Having] been in politics for a long time, [we] know how ballot papers were branded and stuffed because the easiest election to rig is a ballot paper election.
“Now that the ECN is not coming to the party, they are calling meetings, discussing everything but the ballot papers. At the last meeting, they asked for permission from political parties to hand-pick a company to print these ballot papers. We are saying no. Follow the procedures. Let companies with the potential tender for this. By trying to pick a company, you are conniving with that company," he said.
The electoral body is allegedly afraid that the printing of the ballots might not be finalised before election day, especially if there are objections to the outcome of the tendering process, and sought exemption to pick a printer instead.
‘We made it a reality’
Meanwhile, according to Venaani, the party's youth league and young members of parliament were stewards in ensuring Namibia takes the shortage of dialysis equipment and care seriously.
"My dear late brother Hage Geingob had to take [information minister] Emma Theofelus out of the bushes just to try and counter what our young members have done. We should be proud of this record,” he boasted.
“Every other week, the ruling party is opening a dialysis centre. Had it not been for our young people who took the ministry on [regarding] dialysis centres, this wouldn't have become a reality," he said.
Venaani added that instead of discussing the constitution, political parties need to highlight and address the socioeconomic realities plaguing the country.
"Our problem is that there is no development and our people continue to live in abject poverty. We want the government to set up an unemployment grant sending money where it is needed, not a basic income grant. The performance of our country's gross domestic product [GDP] should inform the government on how much they need to give out as these grants," he said.
During the party’s electoral college held over the weekend, PDM president McHenry Venaani said the proposal by the commission leaves room for election rigging.
"We are saying no to this because we know that this has been a contentious issue in this country. [Having] been in politics for a long time, [we] know how ballot papers were branded and stuffed because the easiest election to rig is a ballot paper election.
“Now that the ECN is not coming to the party, they are calling meetings, discussing everything but the ballot papers. At the last meeting, they asked for permission from political parties to hand-pick a company to print these ballot papers. We are saying no. Follow the procedures. Let companies with the potential tender for this. By trying to pick a company, you are conniving with that company," he said.
The electoral body is allegedly afraid that the printing of the ballots might not be finalised before election day, especially if there are objections to the outcome of the tendering process, and sought exemption to pick a printer instead.
‘We made it a reality’
Meanwhile, according to Venaani, the party's youth league and young members of parliament were stewards in ensuring Namibia takes the shortage of dialysis equipment and care seriously.
"My dear late brother Hage Geingob had to take [information minister] Emma Theofelus out of the bushes just to try and counter what our young members have done. We should be proud of this record,” he boasted.
“Every other week, the ruling party is opening a dialysis centre. Had it not been for our young people who took the ministry on [regarding] dialysis centres, this wouldn't have become a reality," he said.
Venaani added that instead of discussing the constitution, political parties need to highlight and address the socioeconomic realities plaguing the country.
"Our problem is that there is no development and our people continue to live in abject poverty. We want the government to set up an unemployment grant sending money where it is needed, not a basic income grant. The performance of our country's gross domestic product [GDP] should inform the government on how much they need to give out as these grants," he said.
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