London, Nov 28 (IANS): Namibia Friday became the first African country in Africa to go to presidential and legislative polls using EVMs made in India.

Opposition parties had challenged the electronic voting machines (EVMs), voicing concerns that lack of a paper trail could encourage vote rigging, BBC reported.

But the case was dismissed by the country's high court earlier this week.

Polling officers will verify voter cards on a device containing the national voters' roll. In the booth, the voter selects his or her party of choice by pressing a button on an electronic ballot unit.

Election officials said the results would be available 24 hours after the poll ends, according to BBC.

There are 16 parties contesting the parliamentary vote and nine are fielding presidential candidates.

The ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo) is expected to win the poll and Prime Minister Hage Geingob to become president.

Incumbent President Hifikepunye Pohamba has already served the maximum two terms allowed by the constitution.

About 1.2 million electors are eligible to cast their vote at nearly 4,000 polling stations across the country.