Windhoek: The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has dismissed what it described as a 'misleading corruption claim' concerning the recruitment process of polling officials for the upcoming elections, asserting that the recruitment was conducted in accordance with the law.

According to Namibia Press Agency, as eligible Namibian voters prepare to go to the polls to elect Regional Council and Local Authority leaders for the next five years, the ECN faces allegations of corruption in its recruitment process, particularly regarding polling officials in certain regions. The commission has so far denied these claims, which primarily originate from various members of the public and stakeholders.

Peter Shaama, the commission's Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer, said on Thursday that the commission operates with the utmost transparency and integrity, assuring the public that internal policies and procedures are strictly followed. 'The recruitment process was executed in full compliance with the stipulated timelines outlined in the 2025 Electoral Calendar,' he said, noting that the process adhered to specific requirements for candidates, mandating that applicants be qualified, unemployed Namibian citizens aged 18 years and above.

Shaama further noted that several individuals have shown up at various training centres, either falsely claiming to have been notified or hoping to gain recruitment. 'Upon verification against the official Commission database, it was established that most of these individuals did not apply during the stipulated period (18 March - 08 April 2024), resulting in their names being absent from the Commission records,' he added.

He also explained that the recruitment process is carried out solely and centrally at the commission's head office and is not managed at the training centres. In response to recent reports that public servants have been hired as polling officials in certain areas, the head of the commission said that the ECN will promptly take legal action against the individuals involved, in line with the law, emphasising the commission's commitment to the highest standards of transparency and integrity outlined in the Electoral Operations Policy.

'The commission takes all allegations of corruption seriously and assures the public that the recruitment process for polling officials was executed in a transparent and merit-based manner,' he noted.