RDP wants EVMs removed
The party says it is important to have an 'evidence-based' electoral system.
The central committee of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) says it will leave no stone unturned to ensure that electronic voting machines (EVMs) are done away with.
The party says the ruling Swapo Party insists on the use of the machines in order to “rig elections and maintain corruption”.
RDP member of parliament Mike Kavekotora tabled a motion in the National Assembly in October last year, saying political parties, civil organisations and interest groups should gauge the opinion of the nation regarding the use of EVMs.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) last year had discussions about the EVMs with the parliamentary standing committee on legal and constitutional matters.
Kavekotora yesterday said the motion was a “critical development”, which the ECN tried to “dilute” by making public utterances about not having money to implement a “credible and trusted” electoral system.
“Allow the parliamentary committee on legal and constitutional affairs to complete its job,” said Kavekotora and impressed it upon the committee to ensure that it completes its task well ahead of this year's national election.
RDP's secretary of information, Nghiningilwandubo Kashume, said the party had campaigned against the introduction of EVMs since the very beginning. Alternatively, he said, the party had asked that the EVMs be implemented with a voter-verifiable paper trail (VVAT), which did not happen.
“This was left out deliberately to enable Swapo to continue rigging the elections in their favour,” Kashume charged. Kashume said the use of EVMs do not favour the democratic principles of transparency and accountability. The RDP leaders said the ECN had introduced the EVMs under the pretext that they would result in a faster and more efficient tallying of votes.
However, they said, the voting machines proved to be unreliable and insecure. Most importantly, they said, the EVMs left no evidence of votes that could be verified and challenged in a court of law.
Kavekotora said it was telling that Swapo declined to use EVMs at its congress last year.
“The ruling party has shown doubt in the EVMs. It has expressly said it does not trust the system. How does it want Namibians to trust the system when it does not?” he asked.
Kavekotora proposed a return to ballot papers, which he said were a tried, tested and verifiable system.
“At least that will bring back the evidence,” Kavekotora said.
CATHERINE SASMAN
The party says the ruling Swapo Party insists on the use of the machines in order to “rig elections and maintain corruption”.
RDP member of parliament Mike Kavekotora tabled a motion in the National Assembly in October last year, saying political parties, civil organisations and interest groups should gauge the opinion of the nation regarding the use of EVMs.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) last year had discussions about the EVMs with the parliamentary standing committee on legal and constitutional matters.
Kavekotora yesterday said the motion was a “critical development”, which the ECN tried to “dilute” by making public utterances about not having money to implement a “credible and trusted” electoral system.
“Allow the parliamentary committee on legal and constitutional affairs to complete its job,” said Kavekotora and impressed it upon the committee to ensure that it completes its task well ahead of this year's national election.
RDP's secretary of information, Nghiningilwandubo Kashume, said the party had campaigned against the introduction of EVMs since the very beginning. Alternatively, he said, the party had asked that the EVMs be implemented with a voter-verifiable paper trail (VVAT), which did not happen.
“This was left out deliberately to enable Swapo to continue rigging the elections in their favour,” Kashume charged. Kashume said the use of EVMs do not favour the democratic principles of transparency and accountability. The RDP leaders said the ECN had introduced the EVMs under the pretext that they would result in a faster and more efficient tallying of votes.
However, they said, the voting machines proved to be unreliable and insecure. Most importantly, they said, the EVMs left no evidence of votes that could be verified and challenged in a court of law.
Kavekotora said it was telling that Swapo declined to use EVMs at its congress last year.
“The ruling party has shown doubt in the EVMs. It has expressly said it does not trust the system. How does it want Namibians to trust the system when it does not?” he asked.
Kavekotora proposed a return to ballot papers, which he said were a tried, tested and verifiable system.
“At least that will bring back the evidence,” Kavekotora said.
CATHERINE SASMAN
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