Namibians await vote results as ruling party seeks to extend 34-year rule

Votes are being counted in Namibia in what could be the most competitive election since independence from white-ruled South Africa 34 years ago.

The poll was marred by logistical issues with voting continuing for an unscheduled second day on Thursday in some areas.

Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is seeking to become the country’s first female president.

She is the candidate of the governing South West Africa’s People’s Organisation (Swapo), to replace Hage Geingob, who died in February after nine years in office.

But high unemployment, poverty, inequality and corruption allegations have eroded support for the party.

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s main challenger is Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) party, as well as 13 other candidates.

Long queues were reported at schools and other polling centres throughout the day on Wednesday.

But there were reports of ballot shortages at some polling stations.

The voting, which started at 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) was due to end at 21:00. But some polling stations still had a large number of voters waiting within their compounds to cast a ballot.

Electoral commission spokeman Siluka De Wet told the AFP news agency on Thursday morning that “some people were still voting”.

Elsewhere, local media were reporting the results from some polling stations.

Several opposition parties had asked for the voting to be extended until Thursday because of the logistical issues.

Swapo has been in power since leading the country to independence in 1990.

A candidate requires more than 50% of the vote for outright victory, or there will be a second round run-off between the top two candidates.

Results are expected over the coming days.

Nandi-Ndaitwa cast her ballot in the capital Windhoek as the polls opened, urging fellow Namibians to go out and cast their vote, saying it will “have an impact for the next five years in your life”.

She is up against a traditional and male-dominated political culture in the country.

But she is a trusted leader having served in high government office for a quarter of a century.

Itula, a former dentist and lawyer, took 29% of the votes in the last elections in 2019, losing to Swapo leader Geingob, who got 56%.

He said this was an important day for Namibia’s democracy, as he cast his vote in the capital.

Namibia is currently led by interim President Nangolo Mbumba, who took over in February after Geingob died, but he is not running.

Analysts say the outcome could depend on young voters, who make up more than half of the electorate.

Namibians are also choosing new members of parliament.

Namibia is a vast and peaceful country with a sparse population of about three million, around half of whom are eligible to vote.