Voting resumed in Namibia on Friday, November 29, at 36 reopened polling stations following disruptions during the country’s general elections on November 27.
The rerun, lasting two days, comes after widespread delays left many voters unable to cast their ballots in presidential and legislative elections, heightening tensions in a country known for its political stability.
The elections are seen as a critical test for the ruling SWAPO party, in power since Namibia gained independence in 1990.
Opposition parties have labeled the electoral process a “sham,” citing long queues and mismanagement that led to voter frustration.
Some Namibians reported waiting up to 12 hours on Wednesday before abandoning their efforts entirely, fueling uncertainty about whether opposition groups will accept the final results.
Frustrated Voters Return to the Polls
At a polling station in Windhoek, the capital, approximately 60 voters were lined up before doors opened on Friday morning, some arriving as early as 4:30 AM.
Among them was 21-year-old student Kluivert Muuondjo, who had left the queue late Wednesday night due to upcoming exams.
“Everyone will have the opportunity to vote,” Muuondjo said optimistically. However, he expressed concerns about overcrowding, as voters are permitted to cast their ballots at any station nationwide.
Namibia’s youthful demographic is a key factor in the elections, with 42% of registered voters under the age of 35.
The country faces high youth unemployment, stark economic inequality, and demands for generational change—issues that have eroded support for SWAPO in recent years.
Opposition Voices Discontent
Christine Aochamus, Secretary-General of the main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), announced that opposition leaders would issue a joint statement on their position later on Friday.
Some voters remain deeply skeptical about the process.
Ensley Engermund, a 49-year-old security officer, expressed frustration after being unable to vote despite trying at four different polling stations earlier in the week.
“Reopening only one polling station in Khomas is absurd,” he said. “With just 1.5 million registered voters, how can there be this chaos? It feels like an attempt to discourage people from voting.”
A Potential First for Namibia
Amid the turmoil, SWAPO candidate Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who could become Namibia’s first female president, faces the possibility of a historic runoff.
This development reflects a shifting political landscape in the uranium-rich nation as public dissatisfaction with the status quo mounts.
The rerun has raised hopes for greater transparency but has also intensified scrutiny of Namibia’s electoral system, with its outcome likely to have a lasting impact on the nation’s political future.
