SWAPO supporters cheer at a rally in Windhoek

Voting began Friday in Namibia’s presidential and legislative elections, in a vote that is expected to see liberation party the South West People’s Organisation (SWAPO) retain power.

Voters at Katutura township, outside the capital Windhoek, formed long lines before daybreak, including some first time “born free” voters — those born after independence in 1990.

“It’s a rich country with poor people, so I hope there is more balance,” said 43-year-old Elias while waiting to cast his vote.

Polls opened at 07:00 local time (0500 GMT) and close around 14 hours later in the latest closing stations.

The country’s fifth election since independence is billed as first e-vote in Africa, with 1.2 million people expected to cast their ballots electronically.

Namibia’s ruling party has predicted an easy victory in the election.

The South West Africa People’s Organisation — better known as SWAPO — was forged from the embers of the anti-colonial and anti-apartheid struggle and has won every election since Namibia’s independence from South Africa in 1990.

Ahead of election day, foreign minister and senior SWAPO party official Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah told AFP victory was inevitable this time too.

“SWAPO is going to win. There is no ‘if’, SWAPO is going to win,” she said.

Polls will open at 07:00 local time (0500 GMT) and close around 14 hours later in the latest closing stations.

Around 1.2 million Namibians are eligible to cast their ballots at nearly 4,000 electronic voting places across the vast desert nation.

Namibian opposition party Democratic Turnhalle Alliance presidential candidate McHenry Venaani(C) is greeted by supporters

Other African nations such as Kenya have run pilot or limited e-voting, but none have done so on this scale.

Namibians will choose 96 members of the national assembly and one of nine presidential candidates.

Current Prime Minister Hage Geingob, the man almost certain to be named the next president when the final tally is in, will cast his vote in the Windhoek township of Katutura.

Opposition parties had launched an 11th-hour court challenge to stop the vote from going ahead, saying the use of Indian-made e-voting machines could facilitate vote rigging.

But the Windhoek High Court dismissed the application on Wednesday, leaving the door open for the election to go ahead as planned.

– Natural party of government –

SWAPO remains by far the biggest party in the country, but has seen increased criticism of the slow pace of land reform as well as allegations of government corruption.

Former SWAPO member Hidipo Hamutenya left the party to form the opposition Rally for Democracy and Progress.

“Whether we’re talking about health services, medicine, and other services, whether we’re talking about education, it’s a poor record for the last 24 years, very poor,” he told AFP.

He accused SWAPO of using the tools of state to bolster its campaign.

“Democracy, the SWAP style, is basically a joke.”

Across the country SWAPO election posters and flags are ubiquitous, while material from the cash-strapped and fractured opposition parties is difficult to find.