Prisoners exercise their constitutional right

PRISONERS were also given the opportunity to cast their votes, under the close watch of wardens, in Friday’s Local Authority election.

“It is the first time that I have voted. I hope for change because there are a lot of things that are not okay,” said Gwen Masau after casting her vote in Windhoek Central Prison.Masau was one of the first inmates to vote in the tightly-guarded prison.Up to 500 prisoners in Windhoek had registered to vote.”When I was outside [of prison], I did not see the need to vote.However, my life has changed since I came in here two years ago and I see things in life differently.I have a responsibility to vote,” the convicted robber and car thief said.Paulus Mtocha, who has served six years in jail, was also voting for the first time.”I voted for the governing party because of stability and peace,” he said when asked why he voted.”Even if you are in prison, you have the right to vote.My only appeal is that others outside make use of the opportunity also.If you don’t vote, you mean nothing,” the young man, who has six more years to spend in jail, said.Presiding officer Harry Kamatuka said their biggest concern for polling in prison was security.”But everything is tight and the prisoners are co-operating quite well,” he said.They expected between 4 000 to 5 000 people, including prison officials and residents in the area, to vote at the Central Prison.Prisoners who were too sick to walk were brought to polling booths on stretchers from the small hospital inside the prison.Aretha-Sheila Karupa dedicated her vote to transparency in municipal appointments and reduced water and electricity rates.”I am going out in October and I know my vote will bring a definite change to the City of Windhoek.It is just a pity that none of the parties came to campaign here.I voted because I had an opportunity to listen to their messages on the radio and read newspapers,” she said.”We had to struggle for a very long time before we got access into the prison, even though we had meetings a day earlier to arrange everything,” said Kamatuka.I hope for change because there are a lot of things that are not okay,” said Gwen Masau after casting her vote in Windhoek Central Prison.Masau was one of the first inmates to vote in the tightly-guarded prison.Up to 500 prisoners in Windhoek had registered to vote.”When I was outside [of prison], I did not see the need to vote.However, my life has changed since I came in here two years ago and I see things in life differently.I have a responsibility to vote,” the convicted robber and car thief said.Paulus Mtocha, who has served six years in jail, was also voting for the first time.”I voted for the governing party because of stability and peace,” he said when asked why he voted.”Even if you are in prison, you have the right to vote.My only appeal is that others outside make use of the opportunity also.If you don’t vote, you mean nothing,” the young man, who has six more years to spend in jail, said.Presiding officer Harry Kamatuka said their biggest concern for polling in prison was security.”But everything is tight and the prisoners are co-operating quite well,” he said.They expected between 4 000 to 5 000 people, including prison officials and residents in the area, to vote at the Central Prison.Prisoners who were too sick to walk were brought to polling booths on stretchers from the small hospital inside the prison.Aretha-Sheila Karupa dedicated her vote to transparency in municipal appointments and reduced water and electricity rates.”I am going out in October and I know my vote will bring a definite change to the City of Windhoek.It is just a pity that none of the parties came to campaign here.I voted because I had an opportunity to listen to their messages on the radio and read newspapers,” she said.”We had to struggle for a very long time before we got access into the prison, even though we had meetings a day earlier to arrange everything,” said Kamatuka.