Namibia goes to the polls in November

Namibians go to the polls on November 27. Some 10 candidates are expected to run for the presidency, with around 16 political parties trying to unseat Swapo, which took control of the country after South Africa pulled out in February 1990. In 2014 Namibia became the first country in Africa to use electronic voting, and this is due to be repeated in 2019. Former prime minister Hage Geingob of the ruling Swapo party won the 2015 presidential elections with 87% of the vote in 2014.  Swapo took 80% of the vote in the National Assembly.
The Economist Intelligence Unit says the governing SWAPO party is facing a reduction in its majority due to what the Economist calls a “challenging political environment”. “After emerging from recession in 2019, downside risks to the economy are now growing from weather shocks and other climate relatedphenomena,” it warns. With a growing deficit the governing party will not be able to spend itself out of trouble.  “Public spending cuts in Namibia’s state-led economy as well as onshore diamond mine closures will also mean belowaverage growth will persist in 2019-23,” it says.