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WINDHOEK. — Namibia’s ruling SWAPO party was expected to extend its near quarter-century rule in elections on Friday as voters and investors in the uranium and diamond-producer look for stability in the face of a global commodities.

The former liberation movement turned governing party has kept its widespread support at the helm of one of Africa’s healthiest economies – though dissent is growing over persistent poverty, inequality and a housing shortage.

More than 100 protesters chanted slogans calling for land distribution in the capital last week, and the resurgent opposition Democratic Turnhalle Alliance has been attracting more supporters.

But analysts say those are unlikely to be enough to threaten SWAPO’s current two-third parliamentary majority in the southern African country.

“We want to propel Namibia to greater prosperity. We want to emancipate our people from economic hardships,” Prime Minister Hage Geingob. — Reuters.