Namibia's SWAPO in huge lawsuit against opposition on eve of polls

Nov 26, 2009, 15:27 GMT

Windhoek - Namibia's new opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) party is being sued by the ruling party of 20 years for 100 million Namibian dollars (14 million US dollars), it emerged on the eve of the country's fifth democratic presidential and parliamentary elections.

Livolly Haufiku, spokesman for the RDP, confirmed to the German Press Agency dpa that the RDP had been served with court papers by the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) seeking damages of 100 million dollars over a remark allegedly made by RDP leader Hidipo Hamutenya.

The amount of the lawsuit is believed to be unprecedented in Namibian terms.

The RDP was formed in 2007 by Hamutenya and Jesaya Nyamu, both former senior members of SWAPO.

Hamutenya, a former foreign minister, is alleged to have claimed during an election rally that past elections won by SWAPO had been rigged.

The lawsuit comes as the RDP threatens to erode SWAPO's three- quarters majority in parliament in Friday and Saturday's presidential and parliamentary elections.

Some 961,000 Namibians, out of a population of around 2 million, are registered to vote in the elections that SWAPO is expected to easily win but with a reduced majority. A total of 14 parties are contesting the election.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who succeeded founding president Sam Nujoma in 2004, is also expected to easily win a second term over 11 other presidential candidates.

Results of the election are expected on December 4.