TODAY and tomorrow the Namibian people will cast their votes to elect the parties and President of their own choice. It is my hope that, as they take to the polls on Friday, they will do so fearlessly, and without being intimidated, harassed, forced or disturbed. It is also my wish that these November 27 and 28 elections will be characterised by overall calm, peacefulness, and an environment of tolerance between the various parties and their members.

The past couple of years have posed some worrisome trends, with the political and social peace that Namibians have, to some extent, become accustomed to having been violated. Media reports have been fraught with stories of intimidation, intolerance and violence surrounding the campaign period leading up to the elections, with the past few weeks being especially unsettling.

Furthermore, there has been a large amount of hate speech and unwarranted accusations made by and between political parties - with the Swapo and RDP parties featuring most prominently in this regard. Many times, we were even informed of individual experiences of assault, based on party affiliation.

During the past year, especially, there were countless incidents where tensions flared between parties, with some parties' campaigns being stopped, their rallies disturbed, and their members chased away. So dire have these actions been, that the political code of conduct for political parties was hardly taken seriously or respected at all.

In some cases, the election landscape was even marked with 'no-go areas' created by Swapo supporters; weapon-wielding party members; 'showdowns' between parties; and the humiliation and victimisation of many - particularly of members of the RDP.

The reported extreme bias of the state (not Swapo)-owned entity, NBC, in favour of the Swapo party in its national news coverage was also a clear disfranchisement of the Namibian people by limiting their right to exercise their own free judgment. This bias was an injustice not only against the masses, but also against the various political parties, each of whom believe they have something to offer the Namibian people, and who should have been given an equal voice through equitable campaign coverage.

There are several more examples that are illustrative of the way in which the pre-election phase has been tainted by hate speech, unfairness, intimidation, harassment, violence, and dodgy deeds.

But even while the pre-election phase has been marred by incidents that have stripped away from the tenets of democracy that define the Namibian Constitution and the Code of Conduct for political parties (among other national and regional documents), the election phase itself need not be tainted in this way.

It is my hope and prayer that those responsible for maintaining peace, law and order will take up this task with the utmost seriousness, ensuring the Namibian people that their democratic rights in these elections are respected, and that any conflict that arises will be expressly dealt with. It is also my hope that all election observers, party agents, election officials, security officials, and all those involved in organising and securing the election process, will carry out their duties vigilantly, honestly and professionally, and without fear of any intimidation.

I pray that the ECN will deliver on its mandate to the Namibian people by ensuring a free, fair and credible election.

In conclusion, and above all, we thank God who has been a faithful, loving and caring Father, and who vindicated all of us from civil war and bloodshed. May his faithfulness and mercy continue with us, the Namibian nation. And may He help us to mature in knowing Him and His purpose for our existence.

Dr Abisai Shejavali, Chairperson Steering Committee:Churches and Elections in Namibia