Namibia seeks Indian expertise to strengthen democratic voting systems.

Strengthening democratic roots globally, election officials from India and Namibia have formally joined hands to improve how elections are managed in their respective nations. This significant development took place during the ongoing India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 held in the capital.

Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar, and Elsie T Nghikembua, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to seal this partnership. The agreement focuses on sharing knowledge and technical expertise to streamline the voting process.

Nghikembua expressed strong optimism about the collaboration, noting that partnering with the world’s largest democracy offers immense value. She explained that the India-Namibia Election MoU primarily targets capacity building. Under this pact, officials from Namibia will undergo specialized training, either virtually or by visiting the Election Commission of India (ECI) premises. She emphasized that this bilateral move is designed to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency for election bodies in both countries.

The conference also served as a meeting ground for global leaders to discuss the future of polling. Delegates from various nations praised India’s ability to conduct massive exercises in democracy. Andre João Mauricio Leitão Do Valle Wemans, Portugal’s Election Commissioner, lauded the ECI for its impressive reach, noting that India manages to connect with every single voter in a way that surpasses many European efforts.

Similarly, South Africa’s Electoral Commission Chairperson, Mosotho Moepya, highlighted the long-standing relationship between the two nations. He pointed out that the IICDEM is not just about current challenges but is also an initiative to reimagine election management for the future, looking as far ahead as the year 2050.

Representatives from Indonesia and Mexico also extended their gratitude to the ECI. They acknowledged India’s leadership in utilizing technology to make elections more inclusive, describing the conference as a vital platform for learning and international cooperation.

With Agency Inputs