Opposition loses election challenge case

The opposition's attempt to have the High Court order a new ballot or at least a recount of the November presidential and National Assembly votes was effectively thrown out of court today (March 4). Judge President Petrus Damaseb and Judge Collins Parker struck the case off the roll of the court and ordered the applicants (the opposition) to pay the costs of the respondents (the Electoral Commission of Namibia and Swapo).

The judgement is a crushing blow for the opposition's claims that the elections were riddled with irregularities. The Judges indicated they would release reasons for their finding later on, but the fact the case was struck from the roll tends to indicate the opposition challenge was thrown out on a technicality rather than on the full merits and demerits of the legal arguments.

For Namibia it means that the handover of power to the new government and President Pohamba's second term will proceed smoothly on Independence Day (March 21). The opposition will now have to assess whether it is worth appealing against today's ruling. But, as in 2004, they may not have the funds to sustain such a challenge, especially now that they have to pay the ECN's and Swapo's legal fees.

The court's ruling was handed down at about 15h00 today to a packed High Court. It was also broadcast live on television and radio.

More when the reasons for the judgement are released.