Court grants poll result review
2009-12-24 18:29
Windhoek - A Namibian court on Thursday ordered the electoral commission to release election material, except ballot papers, to opposition parties contesting the results of last month's general election.
"I order the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to make available by no later than next Monday materials like the counterfoils of used, rejected and spoilt ballot papers and all accounts and returns of ballot papers from all polling stations," Judge Collins Parker said.
Lawyers for nine opposition parties launched a high court application last week for an audit of election results which gave President Hifikepunye Pohamba's party a landslide victory.
If the election materials reveal sufficient proof that a ballot recount should take place, the opposition parties can approach the court again.
"Should the high court grant us the application, the audit will include the recount of ballot papers, rejected ballots, reconciling cast votes with counterfoils and auditing other election materials like the voter's roll," said Libolly Haufiku, administrative boss of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), which won eight seats in last month's elections.
The ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo), in power since independence in 1990, won more than 75% of the votes.
The election was declared by African observers as free and fair. Official results were announced six days after the vote.
In 2004 a similar case in the high court led to an actual recount of ballots, but did not change results.
- SAPA