WINDHOEK ELLANIE SMIT
Outgoing director of elections Moses Ndjarakana's controversy-ridden stint at the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) was the reason behind the non-renewal of his contract, political observers said.
President Hifikepunye Pohamba has appointed a new director of elections who will head the ECN for the next five years and oversee next year's general elections.
Dr Paul Isaak will take over at the helm of the ECN from September 1, the ECN announced yesterday.
He replaced Ndjarakana who had a turbulent five years at the ECN - including criticism by the High Court of the manner he ran the contentious 2009 presidential and National Assembly elections.
The Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP)'s Libolly Haufiku, who led a bid by nine opposition parties to have the 2009 election results nullified, charged that Ndjarakana was not fit to run elections.
"He did not possess the credibility needed to run elections. I think government took note of Judge Petrus Damaseb's verdict regarding Ndjarakana's conduct," he said.
The Congress of Democrats' Natji Tjirera, who was also actively involved in the 2009 election court challenge, said Ndjarakana did not perform according to expectations.
"He was in a position of trust but we were not impressed with his performance. In fact he should have been charged with perjury for claiming that a voters' roll which had inflated numbers of people did not originate from the ECN."
Tjirera was quick to point out that blaming the entire mess on Ndjarakana and leaving out the ECN commissioners would be unfair.
"Commissioners too played hide-and-seek games with us (the opposition)," he said.
Announcing Isaak's appointment, ECN chairperson Notemba Tjipueja expressed confidence in the new election chief.
"The necessary wisdom was exercised in the appointment and it is not for us to question it. The appointment has been made in confidence and trust and the ECN will continue to give the necessary services in the upcoming elections," said Tjipueja.
Isaak expressed his gratitude to Pohamba for entrusting him with the "enormous task".
"One feels very small when you receive such a letter of appointment from the President."
He further said that all stakeholders of the ECN should remember that they are equal and emphasised that he will continue on the road that the ECN and his predecessor have paved, focusing on directing, controlling and supervising elections.
"This coordination and supervision of activities carried out should be done in a fair and impartial way and it should be done ... according to the Electoral Act," he said.
Ndjarakana's term ended in July and he applied for a fresh term.
Five candidates were shortlisted for the position, and two names were then recommended to the President. The ECN did not want to reveal the name of the second candidate recommended along with Isaak.
Those shortlisted were Ndjarakana, current Deputy Director of Elections Ananias Elago, Director of Finance, Administration and Human Resources at the Ministry of Safety and Security Welma Enssle, the Executive Director of the Joint Consultative Council (JCC), Alberts Munyanya Kulobone, and Isaak, who is a lecturer at the University of Namibia.