About 15 560 names have been removed from the voters’ roll during the verification process, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has announced.
The commission says these names were each registered twice using the same identification (ID) document.
The final voters’ roll was published and given to political parties to inspect yesterday.
ECN chairperson Elsie Nghikembua yesterday said the commission initially detected 13 685 multiple entries.
“The multiple entries, with an additional 1 875, were detected from applicants who have registered twice through using different types of documents,” she said.
ECN used its automated fingerprint information system (Afis) to verify registered voters’ entries.
“In preparation of the finalisation and production of the 2024 final voters’ register, the commission, through continuous verification of the provisional voter registration data released on the 29 August, was able to detect a further 1 875 multiple entries as part of the integral security measures of running the Afis system at different stages,” the chairperson said.
This brings the total number to 15 560.
MILLENIALS RISING UP
The majority of registered voters are millenials, or people born between 1981 and 1994.
This represents 900 102 out of 1.4 million registered voters.
Baby boomers (born between 1945 and 1964) account for 161 328 voters, while 27 964 voters are from the silent generation (those born between 1925 and 1944)
.
Namibians born before 1925 account for 1 051 voters.
Women are the majority of the voters, with 784 009 showing up to register, while men make up 665 560 of the total number of voters.
DOCUMENTS USED
Some 1.1 million Namibians used their national ID document to register as voters in November, while 282 218 used their new QR-coded ID cards.
Another 10 045 used their valid green Namibian passport, 44 720 registered with their birth certificates or a sworn statement from the police.
The figures further show that 1 501 others used their old South West Africa national ID document and 1 856 used their birth certificate or driving licence.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
People with disabilities account for 21 757 registered voters.
The ECN categorised these disabilities into people with artificial limbs (710), people who are blind (3 199), people who are deaf (1 742), while people with physical disabilities account for 16 106.
The number of young people who registered to vote is 609 596, representing 42%, and adults who are older than 35 make up 58% of voters.
This translates to 839 973 people.
BETTER ECN
Landless People’s Movement (LPM) councillor Ivan Skrywer yesterday told Desert Radio that political parties have been involved in the election process from the beginning.
“Including letters being written to the police. The content thereof might be an operational matter, but in terms of the letter going out on time and reaching, we have been pretty much involved in all phases of the election calendar,” he said.
Skrywer said the LPM is monitoring adherence to the election calendar.
“Have you done this? Have you done that? That is the level of engagement we as the political relations committee have been involved in and putting pressure on the ECN up to this day,” he said.
He said the ECN’s leadership has changed.
“Back then, it was arrogant commissioners and officials who clearly aligned themselves with the ruling elite.
“You would just see their posture when you enter into this building, their posture would change, their facial expressions and their demeanour would change,” Skrywer said.
South West Africa National Union representative Issascar Tjihoreko yesterday said he is satisfied with the way the ECN is conducting the pre-election activities.
“I think they are actually on par. They are doing a good job. We just received the final register for voters. And I think so far, so good. Everything is going fine,” he said.
VOTERS OF AGE
Swapo secretary general Sophia Shaningwa yesterday denied claims that the party’s rallies are attracting children, who are not eligible to vote.
“Swapo is ready, and when you look at the attendance, you can really say most of the people coming are of voting age.
“That is what is really encouraging me as an administrator – that we are not attracting smaller children, that we are really attracting the potential voters, and I am happy,” she told Desert Radio.
When asked about a court challenge instituted by Swapo members, Shaningwa said she is not bothered by non-issues.
Five party members have instituted an urgent application before the High Court in which they are challenging a decision to hold an extraordinary congress next year.
The five are Reinhold Shipwikineni, Petrus Shituula, Joshua Martins, Erich Shivute and Aina Angula.
“I’m not bothered by those who want to go to court, they must go to court, but they must also understand that Swapo will never let itself be challenged without putting the fire back,” she said.
Shaningwa said the party has the resources to fight a legal battle.
READY TO GO
Similarly, Popular Democratic Movement secretary general Manual Ngaringombe yesterday said it is important to know how many eligible voters a country has.
“I also want to thank the ECN for conducting itself well and in a professional way. It’s now for us as political parties to say how we are going to cement and enhance what we have started,” he said.
Ngaringombe said the party would identify gaps and see what requires attention.
“I also call on political parties for us to go and read the code of conduct and behave accordingly, and to really support free and fair elections,” he said.
Newly registered United Namibians Party representative Zakaria Likua yesterday told Desert Radio the party believes things are looking well.
“We are not worried about anything. People are going to support us for sure, because we are a new political party,” he said.
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