Christof Maletsky
21 October 2009
A record 12 candidates, including incumbent President Hifikepunye Pohamba, had entered for this year's presidential race as the Electoral Commission of Namibia closed entries on Monday afternoon.
Only the Monitor Action Group of Kosie Pretorius and the National Democratic Party of Namibia of Lukato Martin Lukato have not entered the crowded field.
To date the most number of presidential candidates was in the 2004 elections when Pohamba was challenged by Justus //Garoëb (United Democratic Front), Katuutire Kaura (DTA), Henk Mudge (Republican Party), Kosie Pretorius (MAG), Kuaima Riruako (National Unity Democratic Organisation) and Ben Ulenga (Congress of Democrats).
The race was won by Pohamba with 76,45 per cent of the votes followed by Ulenga (7,28 per cent) and Kaura on 5,12 per cent.
The most notable entry this year is Hidipo Hamutenya of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), who left Swapo in 2007 following a string of attempts to push him out of the party.
ENTER THE COMMUNISTS
Other newcomers to the race include former Swapo and CoD MP Ignatius Shixwameni, Attie Beukes of the Communist Party, Salomon David Isaacs of the Democratic Party of Namibia, Frans /Gôagoseb of Namibia Democratic Movement for Change and Unam lecturer Usutuaije Maamberua of the South West Africa National Union (Swanu). Pohamba is not only the clear favourite in the race but is head and shoulders above the rest because of certain advantages given to him as President of Namibia and which his challengers can only dream about at the moment.
This includes his access to State property such as transport and staff support during the campaign.
Defenders of the President's trips say it is difficult to establish a dividing line between when his itinerary was purely party political, as he has to discharge his duties as a Head of State all the time.
Ministry of Information Permanent Secretary Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana said the constitutional responsibilities of Pohamba dictate that he be on duty 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
He said the constitutional responsibility made it impossible for the President to separate his party-political responsibilities from his official government responsibilities.
Election Watch, a public by the Institute of Public Policy Research, recently said such gaps and ambiguities in the country's electoral laws governing the use of State administrative and other resources make it extremely difficult to separate legitimate actions by the incumbent from potential abuse.
It said the issue of incumbency advantage was a grey area in many democracies.
"There is definitely a case for further research with a view to establishing how regulation can ensure the playing field is level and that abuse of taxpayers' money for party political purposes is avoided," it said.
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