Staff Reporter
THE Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has issued a strongly worded statement refuting “false allegations” of corrupt conduct in awarding the contract for the production of ballot papers to a South African company, Ren-Form CC.
The ECN’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Shaama, reaffirmed that the ECN’s procurement processes are fully transparent and compliant with all relevant legal frameworks. He dismissed the allegations of corruption as “malicious, false, misleading, and baseless,” saying that such claims are meant to discredit the Commission and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
“Such unfounded claims are made to cast a shadow on the integrity of Namibia’s electoral system, which the Commission will not allow,” he said.
Shaama further said that with the election season unfolding, the ECN has taken note of a deliberate spread of misinformation, which he said aims to create confusion and sow distrust.
He pointed out that the decision to award the contract to Ren-Form CC was made following a thorough and rigorous evaluation process that adhered to the laws governing procurement. “Factors considered included compliance with technical requirements, cost-effectiveness, reliability, and the ability to meet strict timelines. To be clear and set the record straight: the total cost of this contract is N$6,259,686 — far from the grossly inflated and fictitious figure of N$1 billion being circulated in certain media reports. Additionally, Ren-Form CC is a South African company, not a Zimbabwean company, and boasts a solid track record of printing ballot papers for over 70 elections on the continent in the past 20 years,” said Shaama.
He emphasized that the ECN is fully committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency and accountability, as mandated by its Constitutional duty to safeguard free and fair elections.
The ECN reiterated that the procurement process for the ballot papers was conducted in strict adherence to the Public Procurement Act, No. 15 of 2015, as amended.
Shaama stressed that the authority to make procurement decisions lies solely with the Commission and not with any contesting political party or external influence. “Attempts to suggest otherwise are entirely false and meant to distract from the real issue—ensuring the timely and secure preparation of our national election,” he said, adding that “there is no evidence whatsoever” to substantiate any claims of corruption or misconduct in the process.
He went on to challenge the political parties making the allegations to produce concrete evidence of wrongdoing through appropriate channels.
Among the political parties that impugned the awarding of the tender to Ren-Form CC was the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), which condemned the “ECN’s corrupt tender award,” and the Popular Democratic Movement, which threatened legal action should the ECN not reverse its decision.
However, Shaama remained uncompromising: “The Commission will not tolerate baseless accusations meant to discredit our work,” he said, before urging Namibians to remain vigilant and well-informed by relying on credible, verified information.
“It is the collective responsibility of every citizen to help maintain the integrity of our democratic processes. Do not allow yourselves to be misled by misinformation designed to manipulate public opinion and derail a peaceful and fair election. The ECN is unwavering in its commitment to conducting free, fair, transparent, and credible elections. We call on all citizens and political actors to support the Commission in protecting the integrity of our democracy and ensuring that the rights of all Namibians are upheld,” he said.
