Namibians began voting again on Friday at 7:00 a.m. local time (05:00 GMT) in 36 offices across the country reopened for two days after the incidents that prevented many voters on Wednesday from participating in these undecided elections for the historic ruling party.
An unprecedented tension is shaking Namibia, usually proud of its tranquility and its democracy which has been undermined in these elections, which the opposition has denounced as a “sham” after Wednesday’s endless lines.
Some Namibians waited up to twelve hours on Wednesday to vote in the presidential and legislative elections, when they did not give up. This creates great uncertainty over the recognition of the results by the opposition.
In front of the only office where voting was extended in the region of the capital Windhoek, around sixty people were waiting even before the late opening.
In the first positions, facing the Dutch colonial-style train station, Kluivert Muuondjo arrived at 4:30 a.m. after dropping out at 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday because he had exams the next day.
“Everyone will have the opportunity to vote,” says this 21-year-old student, named in homage to the Dutch football player.
But, since citizens can slip their ballot into any office in Namibia, “everyone will still flock to the same place”, fears this young voter, like the juvenile population of this country where 42% of registered voters are under 35 years old.
After a new meeting, opposition leaders must give their common “position” Friday morning, indicated Christine Aochamus, the secretary general of the main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC).
Massive youth unemployment, gaping inequalities and generational renewal have eroded support for Swapo, the party that has ruled the southern African country since independence in 1990.
Its candidate, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitah, in a position to become the country’s first female president, could be forced into an unprecedented second round in this uranium-rich country.
“Reopening only one office in Khomas (the province of the capital, Editor’s note), is absurd,” annoys Ensley Engermund, who gave up on Wednesday after trying his luck in four different locations.
“There are only 1.5 million registered voters and we end up with this chaos? It was to discourage people,” says this 49-year-old security agent.
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