New Era

WINDHOEK – The three political parties that sent representatives to South Africa to monitor the printing of ballot papers for this month’s national elections have all expressed satisfaction with the process as well as the manner in which it was executed.

Johannesburg-based black economic empowerment (BEE) printing outfit REN-FORM cc clinched the contract to print the highly-sensitive ballot papers, after the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) advertised the tender about a fortnight ago.

The awarding of the tender to the South African firm came in the wake of a strong opposition from opposition parties, some of whom threatened to boycott elections, after the ECN initially awarded the tender to Namprint, a ruling Swapo Party company.

Antagonists of the Namprint tender questioned the credibility and impartiality of the company, while other circles, especially within Swapo, raised concerns over what they termed the exporting of capital when a foreign-based company, REN-FORM cc, clinched the prestigious printing contract.
Only three of the 14 parties participating in this year’s elections were able to send representatives to South Africa, namely Swapo, the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) and the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo).

Swapo sent its Central Committee member and parliamentary candidate Eliphas Dingara and Asser Ntinda, editor of party-owned newspaper Namibia Today, to monitor the printing proceedings in Johannesburg, while RDP and Nudo sent Libolly Haufiku and Theofelus Uahongora respectively.

Dingara said while he did not support the idea of having ballot papers printed out of the country, he was generally content with the process.

“I am very satisfied. I can’t talk about the credibility of the company (REN-FORM), but we, from the Swapo side, were generally satisfied,” said Dingara, who also added that security both inside and outside the building was good.

“They are printing several other sensitive documents such as examination questionnaires and therefore security is tight there. I was there from the printing of the papers to their delivery at ECN,” he said.
New Era has reliably learnt that the two Swapo Party representatives were expected to submit a full report to party Secretary General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana by yesterday noon, outlining how the process went in South Africa.

Haufiku also expressed satisfaction with the printing process of the ballots.
“We’re very satisfied. The company is very professional and the security was very tight,” he said.
Neither Uahongora nor anyone from Nudo could be reached for comment, as several calls to the party’s office in Katutura went unanswered.

The 3.2 million parliamentary and presidential elections ballot papers were printed on Wednesday and Thursday last week in Johannesburg and arrived at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport on Saturday.

Eleven political parties did not send representatives to South Africa to monitor the process, citing inadequate financial resources.

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