Namibia Minute.
Friday, 24 July 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Friday, 24 July 2026
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Namibian press · Organization

Electoral Commission of Namibia

Also known as: ECN

Electoral Commission of Namibia — independent body responsible for elections, whose commissioner and chairperson appointments faced constitutional scrutiny ahead of the 2030 elections.

2022-11-112026-07-24

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. July 2026
  2. The Namibian

    Electoral Commission of Namibia has as nominated commissioner Gerson Sindano for next chairperson role

    Source

    Sindano's current term ends on 21 June 2027 but he has been nominated by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to replace current chairperson Elsie Nghikembua, whose term expires on 16 September.

    ECN nominee Sindano faces opposition scrutiny over past Swapo ties
  3. The Namibian

    Electoral Commission of Namibia is trapped in perpetual administrative paralysis

    Source

    It is an agency trapped in perpetual administrative paralysis, desperately in need of ruthless project managers, logistical savants, and master communicators who can explain why a ballot box has gone missing without looking like they've just been caught stealing a goat.

    ECN a Pawn Again
  4. Windhoek Observer

    Electoral Commission of Namibia has nominees for chairperson and commissioner positions subject to National Assembly approval

    Source

    Sostenus Wilherm Affirmative Repositioning (AR) parliamentary leader Job Amupanda has approached the High Court of Namibia in an urgent bid to stop the National Assembly from proceeding with the approval of nominees for the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).

    Amupanda, IPC challenge ECN appointment process
  5. Windhoek Observer

    Electoral Commission of Namibia is entrusted with organising elections, managing voter registration, certifying electoral outcomes

    Source

    It is entrusted with organising elections, managing voter registration, certifying electoral outcomes and ensuring that every political party competes on an equal constitutional footing.

    ECN appointments: Rule of law must prevail above politics
  6. Windhoek Observer

    Electoral Commission of Namibia is fundamental to Namibia's constitutional democracy

    Source

    Few institutions are as fundamental to Namibia's constitutional democracy as the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).

    ECN Must Remain Above Suspicion
  7. June 2026
  8. The Namibian

    Electoral Commission of Namibia had proposed chairperson appointment motion postponed

    Source

    A motion seeking parliamentary endorsement of Gerson Sindano as chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has been postponed following strong objections from Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda.

    Amupanda objects Sindano ECN endorsement
  9. Informanté

    Electoral Commission of Namibia officially presented Performance Assessment and Post-Election Report for 2025 elections to National Assembly

    Source

    THE Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has officially presented its Performance Assessment and Post-Election Report (PAPE) for the 2025 Regional Council and Local Authority Council elections to the National Assembly.

    Electoral Commission submits 2025 election review to Parliament
  10. The Namibian

    Electoral Commission of Namibia had commissioners interview candidates at National Council

    Source

    The candidates appeared before a selection committee at the National Council chambers on Wednesday as part of the recruitment process for new commissioners following the expiry of the current commission's term.

    ECN commissioner candidates push for electoral reforms
  11. May 2026
  12. New Era

    the Electoral Commission of Namibia was dragged to court by six former PDM lawmakers demanding N$1.5 million each

    Source

    They are six former PDM lawmakers who dragged their party, the Electoral Commission of Namibia and the National Assembly to court, demanding over N$1.5 million each.

    I’m not joining Swapo – Hamata … ex-MP quits PDM
  13. The Namibian

    Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) will compel commissioners to declare their assets under proposed amendments

    Source

    The proposed amendments to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) Act 5 of 2014 will now compel commissioners to declare their assets, a move political parties say could strengthen public trust and transparency in the country's electoral system.

    ECN asset declaration by commissioners welcomed
World & Region

Engineer Vasilije Boskovic, longtime Namibian friend, dies

The News

Vasilije Boskovic, a Yugoslav engineer who supported Namibian liberation movements from the 1960s onwards and later settled in Namibia, has died on 4 July. His relationship with Namibia began in 1961 when he met Sam Nujoma and worked under Yugoslav President Josip Tito to assist liberation movements, facilitating training and support for Namibian students and PLAN combatants in Yugoslavia.

21 July 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 21 July

  1. Engineer Vasilije Boskovic, longtime Namibian friend, dies

    Vasilije Boskovic, a Yugoslav engineer who supported Namibian liberation movements from the 1960s onwards and later settled in Namibia, has died on 4 July. His relationship with Namibia began in 1961 when he met Sam Nujoma and worked under Yugoslav President Josip Tito to assist liberation movements, facilitating training and support for Namibian students and PLAN combatants in Yugoslavia.

    21 July 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 15 July

  1. Opposition challenges ECN nominee over Swapo membership ties

    Opposition parties oppose Gerson Sindano's nomination to chair the Electoral Commission of Namibia, citing his past role as personal assistant to a Swapo official and his current Swapo membership as undermining the commission's independence ahead of the 2030 elections. The National Democratic Party president says he would only support Sindano if he publicly renounced his Swapo membership.

    15 July 2026 · The Namibian

  2. High Court declines ECN commissioner interdict but affirms transparency concerns

    MP Job Amupanda welcomed the High Court's judgment in his case against the Speaker of the National Assembly and others, saying the ruling declined to grant an interdict but affirmed his position that ECN commissioner appointments must comply with constitutional transparency and accountability principles. Amupanda had sought to stop Parliament from approving ECN nominees until key selection process documents were disclosed.

    15 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Tuesday 14 July

  1. LPM nominates Kalan Goliath to replace Keetmanshoop mayor

    The Landless People's Movement has nominated Kalan Goliath to fill the vacant Keetmanshoop municipal seat left by former mayor Melody Swartbooi, who was recalled by the party in June. Goliath's appointment is awaiting completion of statutory procedures including gazetting and ministerial approval.

    14 July 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 12 July

  1. ECN chairperson appointment criticized as institutional mismanagement

    An opinion piece in The Namibian criticizes the Electoral Commission of Namibia's endorsement of Gerson Sindano, a University of Namibia senior lecturer in language development, to replace Elsie Nghikembua as chairperson, arguing that his appointment is unsuitable given the ECN's history of logistical failures including ballot paper shortages and communication breakdowns.

    12 July 2026 · The Namibian

Saturday 11 July

  1. Opposition blocks vote on ECN chairperson without documentation

    Several opposition parties are refusing to approve Gerson Sindano's appointment as Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson until parliament provides all documentation on his nomination, including interview minutes and selection committee recommendations. Opposition leaders also raised concerns that Sindano's previous role as a personal assistant to Swapo's secretary general could undermine the commission's independence.

    11 July 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 10 July

  1. MPs to conduct oversight visits during parliamentary recess

    Members of parliament will continue carrying out oversight visits and constituency engagements during the National Assembly recess from 10 July to 1 September, according to National Assembly spokesperson Sacky Kadhikwa, who clarified that the recess should not be interpreted as a break from parliamentary duties. The third session approved Bryan Eiseb's nomination as director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission, while appointments to the Electoral Commission remained unresolved.

    10 July 2026 · The Namibian

  2. Itula threatens court action over ECN commissioner appointments

    Independent Patriots for Change leader Panduleni Itula has threatened legal action against the president's appointment of Electoral Commission of Namibia commissioners, arguing the process is unconstitutional because the president nominated rather than appointed candidates as required under Article 94B of the Constitution. Itula also raised concerns about incomplete documentation, including missing sworn declarations on political affiliations and unclear term duration for ECN chairperson Gerson Sindano.

    10 July 2026 · The Namibian

  3. Opposition demands access to ECN selection records before vote

    The Electoral Commission of Namibia leadership appointments have sparked a constitutional debate over Parliament's oversight powers. Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda demanded postponement of the vote on the President's ECN nominees until lawmakers are provided with recruitment, interview, and selection committee records, arguing MPs cannot exercise informed judgment without them.

    10 July 2026 · New Era

  4. Amupanda seeks court order to halt ECN appointment vote

    Parliamentary leader Job Amupanda has filed an urgent High Court application to stop the National Assembly from approving Electoral Commission of Namibia nominees, arguing that lawmakers lack access to key selection documents needed for informed decision-making. He is demanding disclosure of interview minutes, scoresheets, the selection committee's recommendation, and the President's nomination, claiming the lack of records prevents lawmakers from exercising constitutional oversight.

    10 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Thursday 9 July

  1. IPC warns of court challenge to ECN nomination process

    The Independence Patriots for Change has challenged the Electoral Commission of Namibia nomination process as constitutionally flawed, saying the President's letters use "nominate for approval" rather than "appointed," and threatened to approach the High Court if Parliament proceeds with approving nominees Gerson Sindano, Emmerentia Leonard, and Julieta Diva Ferreira.

    9 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  2. ECN appointments dispute requires constitutionalism over politics

    An editorial argues that the disagreement over the Electoral Commission of Namibia's appointments process—specifically a dispute between the Attorney-General and the Affirmative Repositioning movement over access to documents related to the President's nominations—should be resolved through constitutional principle rather than partisan rivalry, given Namibia's reputation for rule of law.

    9 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

  3. Speaker refuses delay on ECN vote, agrees to release documents

    The Office of the Attorney-General has rejected demands to postpone Parliament's vote on the Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson and commissioners, but agreed to make documents bearing President Nandi-Ndaitwah's signature available to MPs during the sitting. The legal challenge, filed on behalf of AR leader Job Amupanda, argued that MPs lacked critical documents needed for an informed constitutional decision.

    9 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 8 July

  1. Speaker rejects demand for ECN selection process records

    The Speaker of the National Assembly has dismissed demands by Affirmative Repositioning leader Dr Job Amupanda to provide internal records from the Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson and commissioner nomination process. The Speaker cited the Electoral Act, stating the National Assembly's role is confined to approving or rejecting the President's nominations, not scrutinising the selection committee's internal processes.

    8 July 2026 · Informanté

  2. Opposition MP threatens court action on ECN appointments

    AR leader Dr. Job Shipululo Amupanda has threatened urgent High Court action to halt a National Assembly vote on Electoral Commission of Namibia appointments, demanding Parliament defer the vote until records from the nomination process are made available. Amupanda's legal representatives argue MPs cannot properly evaluate nominees without access to interview scoresheets, minutes, and the President's signed nomination, and question the legality of a nine-month chairperson term instead of the constitutionally prescribed five years.

    8 July 2026 · Informanté

Friday 3 July

  1. ECN appointments debate raises transparency concerns

    An editorial in the Windhoek Observer argues that the Electoral Commission of Namibia must maintain public confidence through transparency and openness, noting that a parliamentary debate over the appointment of ECN commissioners—in which opposition parties alleged MPs were denied access to nomination documentation—highlights the importance of institutions being seen as independent, not merely being independent in fact.

    3 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Wednesday 24 June

  1. Petition submitted for removal of ||Khomani chief

    A 29-page petition calling for the removal of ||Khomani Traditional Authority chief Julienne Gawanas has been submitted to the urban and rural development minister under the Traditional Authorities Act. The petition, backed by members of the ||Khomani and ǂNūkhoen communities, alleges financial mismanagement including claims that Gawanas cannot account for N$80,000 withdrawn from the Traditional Authority's trust fund and that consent was forged relating to financial signatory authority.

    24 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Sunday 21 June

  1. Minister suspends NYC leadership elections amid delegate tensions

    Minister Sanet Steenkamp halted proceedings at the National Youth Council General Assembly in Swakopmund on Saturday night after tensions over delegate accreditation and election timing escalated into disorder, forcing postponement of the leadership vote scheduled to elect a new executive chairperson and board for four years.

    21 June 2026 · Informanté

Friday 19 June

  1. Opposition criticises Swapo over ECN chairperson nomination

    Opposition parties and political commentators have criticised Swapo over its handling of the Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson nomination process.

    19 June 2026 · Namibian Sun

Wednesday 17 June

  1. Amupanda challenges Sindano ECN chairperson endorsement motion

    A parliamentary motion to endorse Gerson Sindano as Electoral Commission of Namibia chairperson has been postponed after Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda objected, citing constitutional and Electoral Act breaches. Amupanda argues that Sindano's current commissioner term does not expire until 21 June 2027, conflicting with the requirement for a five-year chairperson tenure, and that the position should have been publicly advertised and subjected to an interview process.

    17 June 2026 · The Namibian

Monday 15 June

  1. Swapo endorses Sindano for ECN chairperson position

    Swapo has endorsed Gerson Sindano, an ECN commissioner since August 2022, as its preferred candidate for chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, to replace Elsie Nghikembua whose term ends this year. Sindano is a senior lecturer in language development at the University of Namibia with a doctorate in English studies.

    15 June 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 10 June

  1. Mariental Residents Association withdraws councillor after swearing-in

    The Mariental Residents Association has withdrawn Daniel Dawid Gariseb as a local authority councillor hours after he was sworn in, citing his expulsion from the association and asserting he was not the rightful candidate on its gazetted list. The association's chairman claims Gariseb was suspended in January and was not supposed to be sworn in, following a disciplinary hearing at which Gariseb did not attend.

    10 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Sunday 7 June

  1. Electoral Commission submits 2025 election assessment to Parliament

    The Electoral Commission of Namibia has presented its Performance Assessment and Post-Election Report for the 2025 Regional Council and Local Authority Council elections to the National Assembly. The report assesses the conduct and overall performance of the elections and includes recommendations for legislative reform to strengthen electoral integrity.

    7 June 2026 · Informanté

Thursday 4 June

  1. Namibia marks second Genocide Remembrance Day with calls for justice

    Namibia observed its second Genocide Remembrance Day to reflect on the 1904–1908 genocide against the Ovaherero, Nama, Damara, and ≠Nkhoen San peoples. The commemoration emphasises the need for truth-telling, restorative justice, and Germany's full acknowledgment of responsibility for the genocide.

    4 June 2026 · The Namibian

Wednesday 3 June

  1. ECN commissioner candidates advocate legislative and logistical electoral reforms

    Four candidates for Electoral Commission of Namibia commissioner positions have called for sweeping legislative reforms and logistical improvements to boost public trust, including extended voting hours, more polling stations, and amendments to the Electoral Act.

    3 June 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Former PDM MP Hamata denies plans to join Swapo

    Hidipo Hamata, who recently quit the Popular Democratic Movement, has clarified he is not joining the ruling Swapo party and may take time to reflect and pursue other work instead.

    19 May 2026 · New Era

Monday 18 May

  1. ECN commissioners to declare assets under proposed amendments

    Proposed amendments to the Electoral Commission of Namibia Act will compel commissioners to declare their assets within 60 days of the act coming into force and thereafter annually, a move political parties say could strengthen public trust and transparency. Commissioners must submit declarations to the speaker of the National Assembly, with failure to comply constituting grounds for misconduct.

    18 May 2026 · The Namibian

  2. ECN reviews Electoral Act ahead of 2029 elections

    The Electoral Commission of Namibia has resumed review of the Electoral Amendment Bill to strengthen the electoral framework ahead of the 2029 presidential and National Assembly elections and 2030 regional and local authority polls. The ECN's proposals cover voter registration, election management, political party regulation, and the powers of the Electoral Court, including measures to strengthen the ECN's independence from government.

    18 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer

Saturday 16 May

  1. |Khomanin community moves to remove queen and council

    Members of the |Khomanin Landless Association are preparing to push for the removal of Gaos Juliane Gawa-!Nas and her traditional council, citing allegations of unlawful land sales, lack of accountability, and financial mismanagement over the past 15 years. The |Khomanin Traditional Authority has rejected the planned change and threatened legal action, describing the allegations as a smear campaign.

    16 May 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 15 May

  1. ECN launches post-election review, invites public input on Electoral Act

    The Electoral Commission of Namibia has begun a nationwide stakeholder consultation process to review the Electoral Act ahead of the 2029 and 2030 elections, incorporating lessons from the 2024 and 2025 electoral cycles. The ECN is reviving an Electoral Amendment Bill drafted after previous stakeholder engagements to undertake legislative reforms outlined in the Electoral Act of 2014.

    15 May 2026 · Informanté

Electoral Commission of Namibia — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute