WINDHOEK: The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has robustly defended its decision to award a contract for the procurement of ballot papers for the 2024 general elections to Ren-Form CC, a South African company. The ECN has dismissed accusations from political parties that have questioned the integrity of the tender process, stating that these claims are “malicious and baseless.”
According to Namibia Press Agency, Chief Electoral Officer Peter Shaama stated that the contract was awarded to Ren-Form CC following a comprehensive and rigorous evaluation process that adhered to procurement laws. The selection criteria included compliance with technical requirements, cost-effectiveness, reliability, and the ability to meet strict timelines. Despite these assurances, opposition parties, including the Popular Democratic Movement and Independent Patriots for Change, have criticized the commission’s decision and threatened legal action, alleging that the ECN failed to conduct proper due diligence.
Reports have s
urfaced accusing Ren-Form of inflating prices for election-related materials during Zimbabwe’s 2023 general elections, further fueling the controversy. Shaama has dismissed these allegations as attempts to undermine public trust in Namibia’s electoral process. “These allegations, intended to discredit the commission and undermine public confidence in the electoral process, are false and misleading,” Shaama stated.
The contract for the printing of ballot papers was awarded to Ren-Form for a sum of N. dollars 6,259,686, a figure that contradicts media reports suggesting a N. dollars 1 billion deal. Shaama emphasized that Ren-Form has a solid track record of printing ballot papers for over 70 elections across Africa over the past 20 years. He challenged any party or individual with evidence of corruption or misconduct to present it through proper channels, affirming the commission’s stance against baseless accusations.