The Friedrich Ebert Foundation has organised a conference for all electoral commissions of member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for next week. The regional meeting will have the discuss sstrengthening the independence of electoral commissions in the SADC Region on Monday and Tuesday. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will hold its first democratic elections since 1960 in June this year and Angola will follow in 2007. In Namibia, the 2004 elections were contested by opposition parties, which alleged fraud took place. Severe criticism of Namibia’s electoral commission was raised. Opposition parties further doubted the independence of the commission, claiming it was run by SWAPO members, who apparently acted in instructions from the SWAPO headquarters.

The High Court ordered a recount early 2005, which was abruptly stopped by the commission halfway through the counting. The court case is still pending.