National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) in Namibia dismisses the summarized results of the recount exercise as a perfunctory, a grandiose joke and a shameful counterfeit as well as a scandalous and illegitimate recycling of previous irregularities by the same people for the same objective. The said results have been dismissed on inter alia the following principal grounds:

The chaotic recount exercise was mired in secrecy and severe lack of transparency.

The exercise began more than 8 hours behind schedule. Even then not all the relevant electoral material had been brought into the recounting centers. Moreover, many counting agents and counting observers were not issued with their accreditation cards on time. More often than not people who were accredited were denied access to the recounting centers. In addition, both ECN counting officials and independent observers and party agents were subjected to inhuman and degrading conditions, including the lack of bathing facilities and the lack of air-conditioning.

NSHR observers were shocked, though not necessarily surprised, to notice that dozens of boxes contained ballot material that were soaked in liquid. Numerous ballot papers appeared to be muddy while others seemed to have been eaten by termites. Still many more ballot papers bore no official secret stamp on the reverse side. NSHR observers also were shocked to see ordinary and absentee (i.e. tendered) ballots being mixed and recounted together.

Many ballot boxes had no official seals, let alone any seals at all, while several other boxes contained a mixture of presidential and National Assembly election material. Hundreds of ballot and other boxes continued to be brought into the centers even well after the recount exercise had stopped and the majority of ECN counting officers had departed home.

Most of the senior ECN officials showed complete partiality and bias and were hostile towards a few independent observers, the media and Opposition party counting agents. These were constantly subjected to intimidation, harassment and undue influences and, at times, even physical violence. In most cases ECN officials worked closely with Swapo party counting agants from whom they have apparently been receiving orders and instructions.

„We are in charge here", Swapo party counting agents repeatedly reminded independent observers and Opposition party counting agents.

Particularly, NSHR observers were on numerous occasions treated with suspicion and hostility by both high-ranking ECN officials and Swapo party counting agents. The presence of human rights observers was constantly questioned and observers threatened with expulsion. At times NSHR observers were also barred from observing the counting process.

„However, it is our view that Elections Director Philemon Kanime personally behaved in a professional and friendly manner towards human rights observers and was keen to solve prpblems. However, the same cannot be said of most of his colleagues who showed complete partiality and even hostility towards human rights observers, the media and Opposition party agents", said NSHR executive director Phil ya Nangoloh.

The process did not comply with virtually all the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act relating to determination and announcement of elections results as well as internationally recognized principles of democracy. At no time the results of individual constituencies were announced.

The recount exercise had also bared discrepancies. For example, on March 15 2005 between 10h00 and 11h00 ECN Chairperson Victor Tonchi stated during a bogus media briefing that out of a total of 108 constituencies, only 40 had been completed.

„We are in the third day of counting and so far recounts of 40 out of the 108 constituencies were completed. This leaves 68 constituencies to be counted, but we believe counting will be completed by Wednesday as expected", Tonchi was quoted as saying.

Since there were no recount activities going on throughout March 15 2005 and most of ECN counting staff had left the counting centers before 12h00 on March 16 2005 it is logically impossible that the extensively reduced ECN staff could recount 68 constituencies in less than 24 hours.

However, the recount exercise had proved to be worthwhile in that even more irregularities and discrepancies had been exposed.

The above situation must be laid squarely at the feet of ECN Chairman Professor Victor Tonchi who should voluntarily resign or alternatively face summary axing. NSHR reiterates its previous call for the establishment of a truly independent electoral commis-sion.