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CWA # 1582, 31 January 2025
NIAS Africa Studies
Namibia Elections | Explained

  Samruddhi Pathak

On 27 November, Namibia held its seventh national assembly elections. Since 1990, the South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) has remained Namibia’s biggest party after its independence struggle. SWAPO won the 2014 elections, securing 87 per cent of seats and in 2019, 56 per cent. In 2024, it emerged as the most popular party, securing 58 per cent of votes. This term, SWAPO’s candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah won Namibia’s elections to become the country’s first female president. 

Background to Namibia’s 2024 elections 
There are a total of 96 elected seats in the National Assembly and 49 seats are required for the majority. SWAPO won 51 seats. Total number of seats in the National Assembly are 106, out of which eight members are selected by the President. This year, the Independent Patriots of Change has emerged as the second-largest party with 20 seats. Meanwhile, opposition parties have questioned the fairness of elections. Candidates are elected in two rounds of voting. If no candidate secures 50 per cent of the votes, a second round of polls is organised. 

There were 14 other candidates running for the president in 2024. The main opposition candidate was Panduleni Itula from the Independent Patriots for Change. She won 25 per cent votes. Itula criticized the opening of selective polling stations, preventing thousands of voters from casting their vote. Voting was marred by several logistical and technical problems including malfunctioning voter identification tablets and insufficient ballot papers, causing long queues and the extension of voting hours. Leaders of other parties expressed their dissatisfaction towards the selection of fewer polling booths. The AU observer mission gave the Electoral Commission of Namibia a transparency score of 50 per cent. 

Who voted for whom?
The Independent Patriots for Change and the South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) won constituencies across all regions of Namibia. While other parties including the Affirmative Repositioning, Popular Democratic Movement, Landless People’s Movement and United Democratic Front won most seats in the North and Western parts of the country which are poorer compared to other regions. Despite rising support for new parties, SWAPO’s support base is tremendous against opposition IPC which is challenged by a fragmented leadership. 

What were the major issues discussed during the 2024 election?
First, allegations of irregularities. On 29 November, the Election Commission of Namibia extended voting until the night of 30 November. The Independent Patriots for Change party alleged that this extension was illegal and accused SWAPO of committing fraud. According to several media reports, many people were waiting for more than 14 hours outside polling booths to vote. Election monitors, consisting of southern African human rights lawyers, claimed that delays were intentional. Panduleni Itula declared that "the IPC party shall not recognize the outcome of that election." On 3 December Ndatiwah was declared the winner of the elections. The opposition parties approached the court to address irregularities during the elections. The court has given opposition parties the right to access information about the elections.  

Second, low voter turnout. Voter turnout was 97 per cent in 1987 and came down to less than 67 per cent in 2009. In 2014, it further came down to 44 per cent. 

Third, unemployment. Among other issues, the most influential issues were unemployment and poverty. In 2023, unemployment stood at 20 per cent in Namibia which is predicted to increase to 40 per cent in 2024 by the World Bank. 

Fourth, poverty. According to the World Bank, Namibia is considered an upper-middle-income country but amongst the most unequal countries in the world. A 2021 government report found that 43 per cent of the population were living in "multidimensional poverty.”  SWAPO has promised to take radical decisions to reduce poverty in the country. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the new President of Namibia, will assume office in March 2025. During her speech after the announcement of election results, she mentioned a need for land reform and more equitable distribution of wealth. 

About the author
Samruddhi Pathak is a Research Assistant at NIAS.

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