Namibia extends voting again in close elections
Source: Voice of America
WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA — Namibia extended voting for a second time Thursday with the opposition crying foul after logistical failures prevented many people from casting their ballots in the closely fought election.
With the ruling party facing its strongest challenge yet, opposition parties called for a halt to the vote counting and said they had lost confidence in the process.
The polls are a key test for the liberation-era South West Africa People's Organization party that has governed the mineral-rich country since independence 34 years ago. But SWAPO is being challenged by a younger generation of voters frustrated by high unemployment and enduring inequalities.
About 1.5 million people in the sparsely populated desert nation were registered to vote in Wednesday's presidential and legislative elections.
Many were still in line when polls were scheduled to close at 9 p.m. Wednesday, some saying they were in line for 12 hours.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia kept some polling stations open overnight into Thursday and allowed others to begin ballot counting.
Read here the full article published by the Voice of America on 28 November 2024.
Image by Voice of America
WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA — Namibia extended voting for a second time Thursday with the opposition crying foul after logistical failures prevented many people from casting their ballots in the closely fought election.
With the ruling party facing its strongest challenge yet, opposition parties called for a halt to the vote counting and said they had lost confidence in the process.
The polls are a key test for the liberation-era South West Africa People's Organization party that has governed the mineral-rich country since independence 34 years ago. But SWAPO is being challenged by a younger generation of voters frustrated by high unemployment and enduring inequalities.
About 1.5 million people in the sparsely populated desert nation were registered to vote in Wednesday's presidential and legislative elections.
Many were still in line when polls were scheduled to close at 9 p.m. Wednesday, some saying they were in line for 12 hours.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia kept some polling stations open overnight into Thursday and allowed others to begin ballot counting.
Read here the full article published by the Voice of America on 28 November 2024.
Image by Voice of America
