Ren-Form sanitises itself of guilt
Printing firm threatens legal action against rumour-mongers
The South African company has threatened to sue the Namibian official opposition party and others who have raised questions about how it got the ballot-printing tender for the November general election.
Ren-Form CC, the South African company awarded the tender to print ballot papers and provide election materials for next month’s national elections, has threatened to take legal action against political parties and individuals accusing it of corruptly colluding with the electoral body in the awarding of the tender – without presenting evidence.
With local and international political parties, commentators and individuals alleging something untoward occurred in awarding the over N$6.2 million tender to Ren-Form CC, the company maintains that it is as clean as a whistle in as far as securing the contract is concerned.
In response to a Namibian Sun enquiry through its legal representative, Mathopo Attorneys Incorporated, the company, which is also accused of alleged involvement in electoral fraud within the southern African region, also distanced itself from having any ties to controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivhayo.
'False and malicious allegations'
In its statement, the company singled out the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) for allegedly spreading lies about it, arguing that this has tarnished its image and reputation.
Ren-Form said rumours and allegations of corruption towards their brand have occurred before but warned that those who made such alleged baseless claims end up in court, as the company prides itself on its reputation and preserving its good image.
“Ren-Form has noted with deep concern the false and unsubstantiated media reports attributed to the Namibian political party, the [Popular Democratic Movement] alleging corruption and maladministration in the award of a contract to it by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) for the procurement of ballot papers/election material for the upcoming presidential and National Assembly elections,” the statement reads.
“Ren-Form CC wishes to react to these unsubstantiated, false and malicious allegations that are tarnishing to its image, good name and reputation."
The company's legal team added: “Ren-Form CC categorically denies the alleged relations or connections with a certain Wicknell Chivhayo. Ren-Form CC specifically denies that Chivhayo is a shareholder, employee and/or director, and further, Ren-Form CC denies that it is a 'Zimbabwe-owned/affiliated' company (as alleged)," the statement underlined.
“In the circumstances, Ren-Form CC will not hesitate to take the necessary legal steps to protect its good name and reputation against the false, malicious and unsubstantiated allegations against it.
“To this end, Ren-Form CC has instructed its legal team to pursue all available legal recourse against any organisation or individuals responsible for making the false, malicious and unsubstantiated allegations against it in connection to the award of the contract by the ECN.”
'Gucci boy'
On Tuesday, PDM members marched from the UN Plaza to the ECN's headquarters in Windhoek with posters reading: “Corruption stains our democracy”, “Our democracy is not for sale” and “We will not let Gucci Boy rig our elections".
PDM president McHenry Venaani, senior party members and protesters handed over a petition addressed to ECN’s chief electoral and referenda officer, Petrus Shaama, calling for the immediate cancellation of the contract with Ren-Form.
The party claimed that the company is embroiled in serious allegations of corruption linked to Zimbabwe's 2023 general election.
However, Ren-Form CC, in its statement, indicated that on the allegations of corruption in the Zimbabwean 2023 general elections, it has taken legal action against the individuals who made such claims since they failed to provide evidence to back the allegations.
“Ren-Form CC has on numerous occasions placed on record in the public domain that the allegations of corruption and price inflation levelled against it, in connection with the Zimbabwe elections, are false, malicious and were made by certain individuals who have to date failed to produce any evidence to substantiate same,” the statement reads.
“Ren-Form CC has, in reaction to these false, malicious and unsubstantiated allegations in connection with the Zimbabwe elections, pursued legal action against the individuals responsible for making the false allegations, as such allegations have caused it reputational damage and were defamatory to its directors, shareholders and employees.”
Ren-Form CC said that it is an election specialist priding itself in the successful printing and delivery of ballot papers for more than 70 elections held on the African continent over the past 20 years.
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With local and international political parties, commentators and individuals alleging something untoward occurred in awarding the over N$6.2 million tender to Ren-Form CC, the company maintains that it is as clean as a whistle in as far as securing the contract is concerned.
In response to a Namibian Sun enquiry through its legal representative, Mathopo Attorneys Incorporated, the company, which is also accused of alleged involvement in electoral fraud within the southern African region, also distanced itself from having any ties to controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivhayo.
'False and malicious allegations'
In its statement, the company singled out the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) for allegedly spreading lies about it, arguing that this has tarnished its image and reputation.
Ren-Form said rumours and allegations of corruption towards their brand have occurred before but warned that those who made such alleged baseless claims end up in court, as the company prides itself on its reputation and preserving its good image.
“Ren-Form has noted with deep concern the false and unsubstantiated media reports attributed to the Namibian political party, the [Popular Democratic Movement] alleging corruption and maladministration in the award of a contract to it by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) for the procurement of ballot papers/election material for the upcoming presidential and National Assembly elections,” the statement reads.
“Ren-Form CC wishes to react to these unsubstantiated, false and malicious allegations that are tarnishing to its image, good name and reputation."
The company's legal team added: “Ren-Form CC categorically denies the alleged relations or connections with a certain Wicknell Chivhayo. Ren-Form CC specifically denies that Chivhayo is a shareholder, employee and/or director, and further, Ren-Form CC denies that it is a 'Zimbabwe-owned/affiliated' company (as alleged)," the statement underlined.
“In the circumstances, Ren-Form CC will not hesitate to take the necessary legal steps to protect its good name and reputation against the false, malicious and unsubstantiated allegations against it.
“To this end, Ren-Form CC has instructed its legal team to pursue all available legal recourse against any organisation or individuals responsible for making the false, malicious and unsubstantiated allegations against it in connection to the award of the contract by the ECN.”
'Gucci boy'
On Tuesday, PDM members marched from the UN Plaza to the ECN's headquarters in Windhoek with posters reading: “Corruption stains our democracy”, “Our democracy is not for sale” and “We will not let Gucci Boy rig our elections".
PDM president McHenry Venaani, senior party members and protesters handed over a petition addressed to ECN’s chief electoral and referenda officer, Petrus Shaama, calling for the immediate cancellation of the contract with Ren-Form.
The party claimed that the company is embroiled in serious allegations of corruption linked to Zimbabwe's 2023 general election.
However, Ren-Form CC, in its statement, indicated that on the allegations of corruption in the Zimbabwean 2023 general elections, it has taken legal action against the individuals who made such claims since they failed to provide evidence to back the allegations.
“Ren-Form CC has on numerous occasions placed on record in the public domain that the allegations of corruption and price inflation levelled against it, in connection with the Zimbabwe elections, are false, malicious and were made by certain individuals who have to date failed to produce any evidence to substantiate same,” the statement reads.
“Ren-Form CC has, in reaction to these false, malicious and unsubstantiated allegations in connection with the Zimbabwe elections, pursued legal action against the individuals responsible for making the false allegations, as such allegations have caused it reputational damage and were defamatory to its directors, shareholders and employees.”
Ren-Form CC said that it is an election specialist priding itself in the successful printing and delivery of ballot papers for more than 70 elections held on the African continent over the past 20 years.
#NamibiaDecides2024
[email protected]
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