We are no sellouts – UDF

The United Democratic Front (UDF) has defended its vote supporting Gerson Sindano’s nomination as electoral commission chairperson despite intense backlash and boycott from fellow opposition parties . The controversy follows a divided National Assembly vote in which several opposition parties walked out in protest against Sindano’s nomination to head the Electoral Commission of Namibia, while the UDF remained in the chamber and voted in favour of his approval. Sindano secured 49 votes and now awaits being appointed by president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. UDF vice president Nico Somaeb says the party’s decision was not about political deals or selling its principles, but about its position as an alternative party that believes in contributing to nation-building. The accusation comes as Somaeb was nominated and approved to serve on the Security Commission alongside Swapo member Paula Kooper.

Somaeb says political parties have different caucuses, agendas, visions and ideologies, and the UDF should not be expected to follow other opposition parties simply because they are in the same political camp. “The UDF is an alternative party to rule besides Swapo. Seats do not matter, but the party’s contribution towards nation-building is very important,” he says. Somaeb says Sindano’s experience as a current ECN member was among the reasons it supported his nomination. He says the ECN is an important institution that cannot effectively operate without a chairperson, arguing that the parliament had already delayed the appointment for about three months. According to the party, it could not support what it regarded as an unruly situation in which the functioning of an important constitutional institution was being held up. “Sindano is currently a member of ECN and has experience. That…