Namibia’s first female President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has dismissed claims that Zimbabwe interfered in the country’s recent presidential and National Assembly elections.
These allegations were made by five Namibian opposition parties, who suggested that Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party influenced the outcome of the polls, which Swapo won.
The accusing parties – the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Affirmative Repositioning (AR), All People’s Party (APP), and Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) – did not provide concrete evidence but raised concerns about Zanu-PF’s possible involvement.
LPM leader Ivan Skrywer compared the shortage of ballot papers at polling stations in Namibia to tactics allegedly used by Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe to manipulate elections.
“If we look at the election results in Zimbabwe last year, this was the tactic used on day one,” he claimed.
IPC spokesperson Imms Nashinge further alleged that Zanu-PF played a role in Swapo’s victory, pointing to a social media post by Zimbabwean presidential spokesperson George Charamba, who reportedly announced Swapo’s win prematurely.
““How do they know? Is Namibia a province of Zimbabwe? Since when has Zimbabwe had so much interest in our affairs?” Nashinge questioned.
Nandi-Ndaitwah has strongly refuted the allegations, calling them baseless and part of a conspiracy to undermine Swapo.
Speaking in Windhoek, she urged investigative journalists to look into the claims.
“Those saying it, they know it’s not true, but they are saying it deliberately to confuse our people,” she said.
Namibia’s elections were plagued by logistical issues, including ballot shortages and equipment failures, which led to long queues and voting delays.
The opposition claims these challenges suppressed voter turnout, especially in the Khomas region.
Critics have also accused Namibia’s Electoral Commission of poor preparation, with some questioning the legality of extending voting by two days.
Despite these controversies, Zanu-PF and Swapo officials have denied any wrongdoing, with Zanu-PF secretary-general Obert Mpofu describing the allegations as “primitive thinking.”
