Off to the polls... 2015 Elections in numbers

WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? ... Electoral Commission of Namibia regional coordinator for //Karas, Sixtus Isaacks oversees election preparations at the Suiderlig High School in Keetmanshoop on Monday. Photo: Nampa

 NAMIBIAN voters are going to the polls in the country’s fifth regional council and local authority elections since independence today.

After more than 25 years as Namibia’s ruling party, the Swapo Party is going into the elections as the overwhelming favourite.

Before the start of voting, it was already ahead of its political rivals after 26 of its candidates in regional council constituencies were elected unopposed, while Swapo candidates in five local authorities also faced no contest from other parties or residents’ associations.

In 95 constituencies and 52 local authorities, where the ruling party is facing a challenge from other candidates, voting will take place, though.

Swapo is the only party that has nominated candidates in all of Namibia’s regional council constituencies and local authorities.

Some key numbers for voting day 2015:

121 – regional council constituencies in Namibia

57 – local authorities in Namibia

287 – candidates standing in today’s regional council elections, of which 26 are Swapo candidates who were elected unopposed

43 – female candidates nominated in the regional council elections

9 – regional councillors from opposition parties elected in 2010

5 – constituencies won by opposition parties in 2014 National Assembly election

121 – Swapo candidates in 2015 regional council elections

58 – DTA candidates nominated for regional council seats

2 – DTA regional councillors elected in 2010 (both in Kunene)

53 – Rally for Democracy and Progress candidates running in regional council elections

1 – RDP regional councillor elected in 2010 (in Windhoek East, Khomas)

15 – All People’s Party candidates taking part in regional council elections

14 – Nudo candidates running in regional council elections

3 – Nudo regional councillors elected in 2010 (two in Omaheke, one in Otjozondjupa)

8 – United Democratic Front regional council candidates

3 – UDF victories in 2010 regional council polls (all in Kunene)

0 – constituencies won by UDF in 2014 National Assembly election

5 – Swanu candidates in 2015 regional council elections

8 – independent candidates in regional council elections

3 – United People’s Movement candidates in regional council elections (all in Rehoboth constituencies)

10 – political parties contesting regional council elections

14 – political parties taking part in local authority elections

7 – residents’ associations on the ballot in local authority elections

2 – local authorities where the Congress of Democrats is fielding candidates (Usakos and Gochas)

0 – CoD regional council candidates