ECN grilled over recruitment, evaluation of officials
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) came under fire today during a stakeholder engagement in Rundu.
Participants questioned the transparency and fairness of the ECN's recruitment and evaluation of election officials ahead of the November regional and local authority elections.
The most heated exchange came from All People's Party (APP) regional coordinator Augustinus Shindimba, who accused the commission of a lack of accountability and of failing to evaluate officials from previous electoral cycles.
“Remember that ECN is regarded as one of the most corrupt organisations at the moment,” Shindimba said. “If we are not going to be transparent, then we are going to lose everything. Democracy won’t be democracy.”
He argued that the absence of a formal evaluation process after the last elections has allowed untrustworthy individuals to return to the system.
Shindimba also questioned the ECN’s internal decision-making processes, arguing that young people are excluded from opportunities.
“Just because you did not do an evaluation from the previous election, we have people whom we don’t trust with our votes here in the system,” he said, calling for youth inclusion and public advertising of temporary electoral posts.
Processes clarified
Responding to the criticism, ECN’s Kavango East regional election officer Paulus Shifire said the commission had recruited unemployed individuals within constituencies to ease logistical burdens such as accommodation during training.
“We attracted applicants that are unemployed, that are residing within their constituencies, to make it easier,” Shifire said, adding that the database in use was compiled last year and that all temporary officials are recruited on a contract basis and undergo verification to ensure they are not formally employed.
He also said the commission evaluates its processes through post-mortem reviews and that experience is sometimes considered when reappointing officials to ensure efficiency and accuracy.
“The concern is taken care of,” he said. “We are bringing back officials that are experienced to fast-track the process for accuracy’s sake.”
Shifire emphasised that current recruitment is focused on the supplementary registration of voters (SRV) and that the recruitment for polling day officials would follow separately.
Calls for reform
Independent candidate Kamina Frans Kasera also raised concern over the timing and structure of the recruitment process, warning that compressing activities too close to polling day could harm the integrity of the elections.
“At least a month before the election, these things should be stopped,” Kasera said, urging the ECN to revisit Section 35 of the electoral framework and calling for greater clarity on data use, official competence and selection criteria.
He also questioned whether the current group of 192 officials recruited for SRV duties would also be deployed on election day and, if so, whether the commission had factored in the surge of recent unemployed graduates.
“With so many graduates this year alone, why did we not increase the number to reduce pressure and improve fairness?” he asked.
Participants questioned the transparency and fairness of the ECN's recruitment and evaluation of election officials ahead of the November regional and local authority elections.
The most heated exchange came from All People's Party (APP) regional coordinator Augustinus Shindimba, who accused the commission of a lack of accountability and of failing to evaluate officials from previous electoral cycles.
“Remember that ECN is regarded as one of the most corrupt organisations at the moment,” Shindimba said. “If we are not going to be transparent, then we are going to lose everything. Democracy won’t be democracy.”
He argued that the absence of a formal evaluation process after the last elections has allowed untrustworthy individuals to return to the system.
Shindimba also questioned the ECN’s internal decision-making processes, arguing that young people are excluded from opportunities.
“Just because you did not do an evaluation from the previous election, we have people whom we don’t trust with our votes here in the system,” he said, calling for youth inclusion and public advertising of temporary electoral posts.
Processes clarified
Responding to the criticism, ECN’s Kavango East regional election officer Paulus Shifire said the commission had recruited unemployed individuals within constituencies to ease logistical burdens such as accommodation during training.
“We attracted applicants that are unemployed, that are residing within their constituencies, to make it easier,” Shifire said, adding that the database in use was compiled last year and that all temporary officials are recruited on a contract basis and undergo verification to ensure they are not formally employed.
He also said the commission evaluates its processes through post-mortem reviews and that experience is sometimes considered when reappointing officials to ensure efficiency and accuracy.
“The concern is taken care of,” he said. “We are bringing back officials that are experienced to fast-track the process for accuracy’s sake.”
Shifire emphasised that current recruitment is focused on the supplementary registration of voters (SRV) and that the recruitment for polling day officials would follow separately.
Calls for reform
Independent candidate Kamina Frans Kasera also raised concern over the timing and structure of the recruitment process, warning that compressing activities too close to polling day could harm the integrity of the elections.
“At least a month before the election, these things should be stopped,” Kasera said, urging the ECN to revisit Section 35 of the electoral framework and calling for greater clarity on data use, official competence and selection criteria.
He also questioned whether the current group of 192 officials recruited for SRV duties would also be deployed on election day and, if so, whether the commission had factored in the surge of recent unemployed graduates.
“With so many graduates this year alone, why did we not increase the number to reduce pressure and improve fairness?” he asked.
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