IMAGE: Namibia Fact Check
In the wake of the 27 November elections a fake letter that went viral before the elections has resurfaced
Updated on 17 December 2024 to include a link to an explanation of why the letter is fake.
The letter, which Namibia Fact Check already spotlighted in early November as having circulated since early October 2024, made a resurgent appearance in social media spaces as suspicions and claims of election rigging became viral during and following the 27 – 30 November voting days.
The letter that appears under a Swapo Party letterhead and bearing the official party stamp and signature of the party’s secretary general, Sophia Shaningwa, is addressed to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) chief legal officer, Heidi Jacobs.
In the fake letter (image below) Shaningwa states that the ruling party was “fully relying” on Jacobs to “once again deliver this election by whatever means necessary”. It alleges that Jacobs and another ECN official were each paid N$1 million in 2019 to rig the elections of that year, and that the Swapo Party was willing to pay Jacobs N$2 million to “deliver” the 2024 elections.
The facts
When the fake letter from Shaningwa first started circulating in early October, the ECN responded by issuing a statement on 11 October in which it stated:
“We wish to categorically state that these allegations are not only malicious and baseless but are also intended to undermine the integrity and credibility of the Commission ahead of the upcoming 2024 November elections. The letter in circulation, which falsely implicates our senior official, appears to be a deliberate act of impersonation and misinformation.
Misinformation can disrupt the democratic process and tarnish the reputation of individuals and institutions dedicated to upholding electoral integrity such as the Electoral Commission of Namibia. Therefore, we urge the public to refrain from sharing or giving credence to such misleading information.”
The ECN media statement was widely reported on by the news media following its release in mid-October 2024.
The Swapo Party has not issued a statement or commented on the fake letter since it first appeared in social media spaces in early October 2024.
To understand why this letter is fake, here’s an explanation by Namibia-based digital creator and entrepreneur Nrupesh Soni.
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This is an output of and for the Elections Fact Checking Coalition of Namibian media and civil society partners combating election-related misinformation.