SADC officials to observe Namibian elections

Johannesburg - A group of SADC officials has arrived in Namibia to observe its elections and ensure adherence to democratic principles, the organisation said on Friday.

"To date, the SEOM has deployed 95 observers constituted into 23 teams in all the 14 regions of Namibia," Southern African Development Community Electoral Observation Mission deputy head Luwellyn Landers said.

"The SEOM takes great interest in the elections in Namibia as the first country in the region to utilise the electronic voting machines," he said.

Landers said that before leaving for Namibia, the officials assessed its readiness to hold elections.

"SADC would like to take this opportunity to encourage the people of the Republic of Namibia to continue to demonstrate political maturity," he said.

Presidential and parliamentary elections take place next Friday. It will be the first time the country votes in one day. In the past two days were set aside. Sixteen political parties and nine presidential candidates are taking part.

In 1989, the country's first ever democratic elections took place under the UN supervision. On 21 March 1990, Namibia, formerly South West Africa, became independent from the then apartheid South Africa.