No to elections under a state of emergency – Venaani

Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani says the upcoming regional and local authority elections should be postponed if the state of emergency is extended beyond September.

He made these remarks at a media event in Windhoek in response to the announcement by president Hage Geingob to extend the Khomas region's lockdown for five days.

Venaani said political parties are already finding it hard to conduct their primaries to nominate candidates to contest the elections.

“ . . . we will not support holding the elections under the state of emergency. It is already difficult to conduct primaries in the current circumstances. If they extend it together with the lockdown, how will people freely participate in the elections?” Venaani asked.

He also wants the ongoing supplementary voters' registration to be extended to ensure that the process captures all eligible voters.

The state of emergency comes to an end on 17 September.

Venaani said he is expecting a motion to be tabled in the National Assembly next week on whether to extend the state of emergency.

He said his party will not support this because the state of emergency impacted citizens and the economy gravely.

He also criticised the government for not having an exit plan beyond the state of emergency.