More than half of Namibians don’t trust ECN – report
Support for elections 'increases with age'
The survey showed that support for elections has, however, decreased by 13 percentage points in Namibia from 2011 to 2023.
While more than 60% of Namibians are in support of elections, 52% do not trust the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) at all.
According to a new Afrobarometer survey, about 75% of Africans support fair, open and honest elections as the best way to choose their leaders, with 66% of Namibians agreeing.
Support for electing leaders increases with age among Africans, ranging from 73% among 18- to 35-year-olds to 78% among those over 55, it said.
The survey showed that support for elections has, however, decreased by 13 percentage points in Namibia from 2011 to 2023.
Nearly 64% of Africans support multiparty competition to ensure that voters have a real choice in who governs them, while 34% think political parties foster division and confusion.
In Namibia, 71% are in support of multiparty competition.
Cooperate, not criticise
According to Afrobarometer, 73% of Africans say that after losing an election, the opposition should cooperate with the government to help develop the country rather than monitor and criticise the government to hold it accountable.
A total of 65% of Namibians agree with this statement, while 69% say they participate in elections.
Furthermore, the report said fewer than half (42%) of Africans believe that their country’s elections ensure that members of parliament represent the views of voters. In Namibia, this percentage is also 42%.
A similar minority - 45% - of Africans say elections enable voters to remove leaders from office who fail to align with the desires of the people, with 43% of Namibians echoing this sentiment.
A solid 65% of Africans said they feel completely free to vote for the candidate of their choice without feeling pressured, with 75% of Namibians agreeing.
However, a mere 37% of Africans and 63% of Namibians said their most recent national elections were completely free and fair.
Fear of intimidation, violence
On two other indicators of the election environment - ballot secrecy and personal safety - a majority of Africans see little cause for concern, the report found.
“Still, significant minorities think it is possible for powerful people to find out how they voted (30%) and report experiencing a fear of intimidation or violence during their most recent election (21%).”
In Namibia, 29% feel it is possible that that powerful people may find out their votes, while 15% said they have feared intimidation or violence.
Moreover, only 39% of Africans said they trust their national electoral commission. In Namibia, this percentage is 44%.
According to a new Afrobarometer survey, about 75% of Africans support fair, open and honest elections as the best way to choose their leaders, with 66% of Namibians agreeing.
Support for electing leaders increases with age among Africans, ranging from 73% among 18- to 35-year-olds to 78% among those over 55, it said.
The survey showed that support for elections has, however, decreased by 13 percentage points in Namibia from 2011 to 2023.
Nearly 64% of Africans support multiparty competition to ensure that voters have a real choice in who governs them, while 34% think political parties foster division and confusion.
In Namibia, 71% are in support of multiparty competition.
Cooperate, not criticise
According to Afrobarometer, 73% of Africans say that after losing an election, the opposition should cooperate with the government to help develop the country rather than monitor and criticise the government to hold it accountable.
A total of 65% of Namibians agree with this statement, while 69% say they participate in elections.
Furthermore, the report said fewer than half (42%) of Africans believe that their country’s elections ensure that members of parliament represent the views of voters. In Namibia, this percentage is also 42%.
A similar minority - 45% - of Africans say elections enable voters to remove leaders from office who fail to align with the desires of the people, with 43% of Namibians echoing this sentiment.
A solid 65% of Africans said they feel completely free to vote for the candidate of their choice without feeling pressured, with 75% of Namibians agreeing.
However, a mere 37% of Africans and 63% of Namibians said their most recent national elections were completely free and fair.
Fear of intimidation, violence
On two other indicators of the election environment - ballot secrecy and personal safety - a majority of Africans see little cause for concern, the report found.
“Still, significant minorities think it is possible for powerful people to find out how they voted (30%) and report experiencing a fear of intimidation or violence during their most recent election (21%).”
In Namibia, 29% feel it is possible that that powerful people may find out their votes, while 15% said they have feared intimidation or violence.
Moreover, only 39% of Africans said they trust their national electoral commission. In Namibia, this percentage is 44%.
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