POLITICAL parties expect voters to stream to the polling stations in eight weeks but there are no placards or any campaign material on display in any town so far.

In the past, posters would be all over town with three months left before voting, but political parties say they are now counting every cent as past experience has shown them that posters get destroyed well before the time.

Asser Mbai, Secretary General of the National Unity Democratic Organisation, said they have delayed the process deliberately.

"Posters are very expensive and putting them up too early will mean they will be removed or damaged early. Our strategy is to put them up this month," Mbai said.

The director of administration at the Rally for Democracy and Progress, Libolly Haufiku, said they were finalising arrangements with different municipalities before putting up posters.

The Deputy Director of Operations at the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Theo Mujoro, said there are no regulations barring political parties from putting up posters earlier.

The only consideration, as indicated in the code of conduct for political parties, is that such posters may not cause any environmental damage.

The nomination process for political parties to submit the names of their candidates opened on Thursday.

However, no party has so far submitted its party list to the ECN.

Mujoro said the parties have until October 19 to do so.

"Traditionally parties will all come on October 19 and register one by one. Normally the media are also invited. We expect that it will be the same this year," Mujoro said.

The All People's Party, Congress of Democrats, Democratic Party of Namibia, DTA of Namibia, Monitor Action Group, Namibia Democratic Movement for Change, National Democratic Party of Namibia, Rally for Democracy and Progress, Republican Party, Swanu of Namibia, Swapo Party and the United Democratic Front have all indicated that they will enter the November elections.

For APP, DPN, NDPN and RDP, it will be their first national election.