Desire for change at Karibib, Usakos and Omaruru

MORE than 60 per cent of registered voters turned out to cast their ballots at Karibib, Usakos and Omaruru on Friday.

Most, especially young first-time voters, expressed a desire to see change and development. At Karibib, Swapo won three seats, two down from the five it pocketed in the last Local Authority polls.The UDF gained two seats, the Congress of Democrats and the DTA took one seat each.A total of 1 343 people, or 51,4 per cent, of registered voters at the town took part in the poll that went off smoothly according to returning officer Richard Smith.Voter Erika Gertze, taking part in an election for the second time, said voting was very important and that people wanted change.”Last week, we had no electricity because NamPower hadn’t been paid,” she said.”We need employment badly here too.”Another voter, Norman Shikulo, who has taken part in polls since Independence said he was happy with the way the election was conducted.””Residents need things like tarred roads,” he said.”And we must get services to squatters in the informal settlement.”Maria Ndeulita, voting for the second time, said it was important that people in the informal settlements had access to electricity and toilets.Rotella Tjivikua, who was happy with the way the process was going, said she wanted to see help for the elderly and people with HIV-AIDS.”Also give a chance of a job to those who failed Grade 10 and 12,” she said.At Usakos, where the voter turnout was 70 per cent, newcomers, the CoD, won two seats, Swapo retained the three it won in the previous poll, the DTA lost the only seat it held and the UDF took two seats, one less than last time.The presiding officer at the Hakhaseb Community Hall, Lucia Humphries, said 100 of the town’s 2 284 registered voters, cast their ballots at her polling station in the first hour.Young voters turned out in numbers in the hope their support would lead to more employment at their town.Nickolaas Ngaringombe, voting for the first time, said he wanted to see more jobs, better housing and roads at Usakos.At Omaruru, where 66 per cent of registered voters made their way to polling stations, the DTA lost the two seats it held on the last town council.Swapo took three seats, one more than before, Nudo took one seat and both the UDF (2) and the Omaruru Residents’ Association (1), retained the seats held on the past council.Helga Nienhaus said she wanted to see the new council keep everything clean at the town and more development take place.At Karibib, Swapo won three seats, two down from the five it pocketed in the last Local Authority polls.The UDF gained two seats, the Congress of Democrats and the DTA took one seat each.A total of 1 343 people, or 51,4 per cent, of registered voters at the town took part in the poll that went off smoothly according to returning officer Richard Smith.Voter Erika Gertze, taking part in an election for the second time, said voting was very important and that people wanted change.”Last week, we had no electricity because NamPower hadn’t been paid,” she said.”We need employment badly here too.”Another voter, Norman Shikulo, who has taken part in polls since Independence said he was happy with the way the election was conducted.””Residents need things like tarred roads,” he said.”And we must get services to squatters in the informal settlement.”Maria Ndeulita, voting for the second time, said it was important that people in the informal settlements had access to electricity and toilets.Rotella Tjivikua, who was happy with the way the process was going, said she wanted to see help for the elderly and people with HIV-AIDS.”Also give a chance of a job to those who failed Grade 10 and 12,” she said.At Usakos, where the voter turnout was 70 per cent, newcomers, the CoD, won two seats, Swapo retained the three it won in the previous poll, the DTA lost the only seat it held and the UDF took two seats, one less than last time.The presiding officer at the Hakhaseb Community Hall, Lucia Humphries, said 100 of the town’s 2 284 registered voters, cast their ballots at her polling station in the first hour.Young voters turned out in numbers in the hope their support would lead to more employment at their town.Nickolaas Ngaringombe, voting for the first time, said he wanted to see more jobs, better housing and roads at Usakos.At Omaruru, where 66 per cent of registered voters made their way to polling stations, the DTA lost the two seats it held on the last town council.Swapo took three seats, one more than before, Nudo took one seat and both the UDF (2) and the Omaruru Residents’ Association (1), retained the seats held on the past council.Helga Nienhaus said she wanted to see the new council keep everything clean at the town and more development take place.