Namibia Extends Voting After Election Irregularities Spark Uproar

Technical failures and ballot shortages disrupt Namibia's presidential and parliamentary elections, challenging the ruling party's 34-year dominance.

Namibia's Electoral Commission extended voting to Saturday after logistical failures, including ballot shortages and overheating voter registration tablets, caused delays.
Opposition parties, led by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), criticized the extension as unlawful but urged voters to participate to safeguard democratic rights.
The ruling SWAPO party, in power since independence in 1990, faces its toughest challenge yet from a youth-driven opposition frustrated by inequality and high unemployment.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, SWAPO's candidate, could become Namibia's first female president, but she faces strong competition from IPC's Panduleni Itula, a former dentist and lawyer.
Observers and voters expressed concerns about the credibility of the election process, with some calling for a re-run due to widespread irregularities and voter frustration.