Windhoek — Namibia’s ruling Swapo party captured a decisive share of seats in Monday’s local authority elections, winning just over 52% of all seats nationwide, electoral authorities said, marking an increase of nearly 40% compared with the 2020 local polls. Officials also reported turnout was low, with fewer than 40% of registered voters casting ballots.
The results reaffirm Swapo’s standing after three decades in national government, but analysts cautioned the party’s gains do not translate into uncontested control at the municipal level. In several towns and councils the balance of power remained narrow enough that coalitions or alliances will be required to form local administrations, observers said.
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The emergence of the Affirmative Repositioning movement (AR) as a local authority contender was one of the election’s most notable developments. AR, contesting local elections for the first time, captured multiple seats — including representation in Windhoek — a result that surprised some political watchers and could complicate coalition math in the capital and other councils.
- Swapo: just over 52% of local authority seats nationwide
- Seat increase: nearly 40% more seats than in 2020 local polls
- Voter turnout: fewer than 40% of registered voters participated
- Opposition: Affirmative Repositioning won several seats, including in Windhoek
Low participation levels underscore long-standing concerns about voter engagement in local contests, where turnout typically trails national elections. Political analysts said the subdued turnout complicates interpretations of the mandate: while Swapo’s share of seats rose sharply, the proportion of the electorate that actively supported the party remains limited.
Practical consequences are immediate. With margins thin in multiple councils, party leaders and local representatives will now begin negotiations to form administrations, decide mayoral and chair appointments, and allocate committee posts. Those talks could produce formal coalitions, issue-based alliances or ad hoc arrangements that vary across municipalities and towns.
The AR movement’s foothold in Windhoek is likely to attract particular attention. Control of the capital’s council influences local service delivery, urban planning and land policy — areas that have been central to AR’s platform — and could force established parties to make concessions in exchange for governing stability.
Electoral officials have not yet published a full ward-by-ward breakdown of results; parties and analysts will be parsing detailed returns in the coming days to map where gains and losses were concentrated and how they alter the local political landscape ahead of council constitutions and coalition talks.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
