Namibia’s president faces increased election troubles

Significance

Geingob faces a vigorous challenge from independent candidate Dr Panduleni Itula, who has capitalised on the ongoing ‘Fishrot’ corruption scandal that has engulfed the government and unnerved the ruling SWAPO party. Meanwhile, a legal challenge to the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) risks delaying the poll.

Impacts

• Populist policies on black economic empowerment, investment and land reform will continue to undermine wider investor confidence.
• Concerns about the reliability of EVMs may see the legitimacy of the election questioned.
• Lack of significant rainfall will worsen conditions for the quarter of the population requiring food aid amid an ongoing drought emergency.