Namibians went to the polls on Wednesday to vote for a new president and parliamentarians in elections considered crucial and anticipated to be tight.
The ruling Swapo party has been in power since independence from South Africa in 1990 and is expected to prolong that hold on power.
Incumbent President Hage Geingob who is the country’s third leader since independence is seeking a second and final term in office.
He is facing opposition from Namibia’s first female presidential candidate, Esther Muinjangue as well as Panduleni Itula, who is a member of the ruling SWAPO party but running as an independent.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and would close at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT) with 1.3 million registered voters expected to take part in the polls.
Wishing all Namibian voters and our colleagues at @ECN_Namibia peaceful, free and fair general elections today. #NamibiaVotes2019 #NamibiaElections pic.twitter.com/giyTWPTZP5
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) November 27, 2019
Voters will be electing 96 members of parliament with the ruling SWAPO already having 77-seat majority and hoping to hold on to it or add more.
Voting underway in presidential and national assembly elections in #Namibia with #Commonwealth Observer Group making an early start to witness opening of polls.#CommonwealthElections ? pic.twitter.com/gUcZZfTngG
— The Commonwealth (@commonwealthsec) November 27, 2019
Namibia’s economy has been marred by a drought that has impacting its agricultural sector, affecting exports.
The next leader also needs to address the issue of youth unemployment.
Source: Africafeeds.com
