Latest on alleged ZANU PF meddling in Namibia elections

Namibia's ruling party, Swapo, has strongly denied allegations of interference by Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF in the country's recent elections, calling the accusations a baseless conspiracy aimed at undermining its legitimacy.

"These allegations are unfortunate, imaginary, and a conspiracy designed to discredit Swapo and our democratic process," said Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Swapo's president-elect, in a statement this week. Nandi-Ndaitwah won the presidential race with 57 percent of the vote, securing over 638,000 ballots and affirming the party's continued dominance in Namibian politics.

The allegations, brought forward by five opposition parties, including the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and the Landless People's Movement (LPM), claimed Zanu-PF aided Swapo in retaining power. Among the accusations were suggestions that Swapo employed election tactics similar to those allegedly used by Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe, such as running out of ballot papers at polling stations.

However, Nandi-Ndaitwah dismissed these claims, asserting that the opposition parties were grasping at straws after a decisive electoral loss. "These are not the actions of a credible opposition but of sore losers trying to find excuses for their defeat," she said.

Swapo's defense was bolstered by Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF, whose Secretary-General, Obert Mpofu, rejected the accusations outright. "This is primitive thinking. Zanu-PF has no role in Namibia's elections and does not interfere in the sovereign processes of other nations," Mpofu said in a statement to local media.

Namibia's elections are overseen by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), an independent body responsible for conducting free and fair elections. Opposition parties have yet to provide concrete evidence to substantiate their claims of foreign interference.

Former Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula echoed the skepticism. "These allegations seem more like a distraction from the opposition's failure to present a strong campaign," Angula told The Namibian. "The focus should be on building a credible alternative, not pointing fingers without evidence."

The president of Swanu of Namibia, Evilastus Kaaronda, also warned against unsubstantiated accusations. "Baseless claims like these risk destabilizing our democracy," he said. "If there's evidence, it must be presented; otherwise, this is just reckless politicking."

The opposition parties' failure to substantiate their claims mirrors similar episodes in Zimbabwe. In 2018, Zimbabwean opposition leader Nelson Chamisa challenged the presidential election results but failed to present the required V11 forms - official polling station records - to support his allegations. The courts dismissed his case, solidifying President Emmerson Mnangagwa's victory.

Namibia's opposition appears to be following a similar playbook, relying on insinuations rather than hard evidence. Legal experts have stressed that without substantial proof, these allegations will likely falter in court and public opinion.

"The opposition needs to come forward with credible evidence if they expect these claims to be taken seriously," said Felix Mwandila, a constitutional law scholar at the University of Namibia. "In the absence of that, the allegations amount to little more than political theater."

Despite the controversy, Nandi-Ndaitwah's victory highlights the trust placed in Swapo by a majority of Namibians. "The people of Namibia have spoken," she said. "Let us now focus on moving our country forward, addressing the challenges that lie ahead."

With Swapo firmly in power, questions linger about the opposition's ability to regroup and offer a viable alternative in the next election. For now, the allegations of Zanu-PF interference seem to be little more than a political smokescreen, devoid of the evidence required to challenge Namibia's electoral outcomes.