Swapo task force probes alleged voting irregularities in Tsumeb
The Swapo Party’s Oshikoto regional executive has resolved to involve party leaders in a task force to address allegations of irregularities during the ongoing internal primary elections in Tsumeb.
This was confirmed by regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu, speaking to Namibian Sun following a recent report on the matter.
“That matter is not yet dealt with. It’s just a matter of availability of the members so that we bring them under one roof and iron out the issues. There is a committee, which will be a task force comprising of the leaders assigned,” Amukwiyu explained.
Amukwiyu added that the task force has already resolved several issues raised within the region, all of which were settled amicably.
The concerns in Tsumeb were raised by Swapo member Shalipo ya Shalipo, who served as an observer during the party’s primary elections on 25 June. He alleged that unvetted candidates were allowed on the ballot.
In a letter dated 26 June and submitted to Amukwiyu, Ya Shalipo also alleged that the presiding officer allowed spoiled ballots to be counted.
At the time, Amukwiyu confirmed receipt of the letter and said the regional executive would investigate.
Concerns raised
Ya Shalipo claimed that during the vetting process of regional and local authority candidates, Amukwiyu announced that some party members did not meet the minimum requirements. Some failed to submit necessary documents, while others fell short of required standards.
"This was a critical and commendable step to ensure transparency. However, it raises concerns about how and why these comrades' names ended up on the list of candidates in the first place, given that such gaps existed before the vetting," Ya Shalipo noted.
He added that the presiding officer announced there was only one ballot paper listing seven candidates – four men and three women – and that each delegate was to vote for one man and two women. Ballots with more or fewer than three selections would be considered spoiled.
Ya Shalipo claimed that one of the first delegates to cast her vote openly declared that she had only voted for two candidates.
"This was a procedural error, yet the presiding officer paused the voting and asked the entire hall for permission to open the ballot and allow the delegate to correct it, which was done," he alleged.
Training crucial
Despite the presiding officer reportedly reiterating multiple times that only ballots with exactly three votes would be valid, several spoiled ballots were allegedly later found during the counting – some with only one vote and not the required three, according to Ya Shalipo.
"To my concern, the presiding officer allowed these spoiled ballots to be counted, even though they clearly violated the very voting rule he had outlined himself at the start of the process,” he said.
He asked that the alleged irregularities be officially reviewed and that “future election presiding officers be thoroughly trained or guided to adhere strictly to established voting procedures. Ballot rules must be clearly enforced to preserve the integrity of the process," he noted.
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This was confirmed by regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu, speaking to Namibian Sun following a recent report on the matter.
“That matter is not yet dealt with. It’s just a matter of availability of the members so that we bring them under one roof and iron out the issues. There is a committee, which will be a task force comprising of the leaders assigned,” Amukwiyu explained.
Amukwiyu added that the task force has already resolved several issues raised within the region, all of which were settled amicably.
The concerns in Tsumeb were raised by Swapo member Shalipo ya Shalipo, who served as an observer during the party’s primary elections on 25 June. He alleged that unvetted candidates were allowed on the ballot.
In a letter dated 26 June and submitted to Amukwiyu, Ya Shalipo also alleged that the presiding officer allowed spoiled ballots to be counted.
At the time, Amukwiyu confirmed receipt of the letter and said the regional executive would investigate.
Concerns raised
Ya Shalipo claimed that during the vetting process of regional and local authority candidates, Amukwiyu announced that some party members did not meet the minimum requirements. Some failed to submit necessary documents, while others fell short of required standards.
"This was a critical and commendable step to ensure transparency. However, it raises concerns about how and why these comrades' names ended up on the list of candidates in the first place, given that such gaps existed before the vetting," Ya Shalipo noted.
He added that the presiding officer announced there was only one ballot paper listing seven candidates – four men and three women – and that each delegate was to vote for one man and two women. Ballots with more or fewer than three selections would be considered spoiled.
Ya Shalipo claimed that one of the first delegates to cast her vote openly declared that she had only voted for two candidates.
"This was a procedural error, yet the presiding officer paused the voting and asked the entire hall for permission to open the ballot and allow the delegate to correct it, which was done," he alleged.
Training crucial
Despite the presiding officer reportedly reiterating multiple times that only ballots with exactly three votes would be valid, several spoiled ballots were allegedly later found during the counting – some with only one vote and not the required three, according to Ya Shalipo.
"To my concern, the presiding officer allowed these spoiled ballots to be counted, even though they clearly violated the very voting rule he had outlined himself at the start of the process,” he said.
He asked that the alleged irregularities be officially reviewed and that “future election presiding officers be thoroughly trained or guided to adhere strictly to established voting procedures. Ballot rules must be clearly enforced to preserve the integrity of the process," he noted.
[email protected]
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