Seafarers unable to cast their votes

A number of seafarers in the Oshana region are unable to cast their votes due to a number of challenges with their employers.

According to the election officials at the polling stations, who preferr to remain anonymous due to fear of victimisation, some of the seafarers’ names are not appearing on the voting list that was provided to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).

“The issue of the seagoing personnel is very complicated. Some companies have not sent their employees’ names to ECN indicating that they will be on duty on 27 November. It is hard to allow them to vote because they do not have anything indicating that indeed they will be on duty like other companies. We want proof because anyone can just walk in and say that they will be on duty. Most of the seagoing personnel are on holiday, and it’s really complicated for them,” an election official says.

She adds that ECN is busy engaging with the affected seagoing personnel companies.

ECN Oshana regional electoral officer Amon-Oiva Haimbangu has confirmed the seafarers’ issue, saying that there is nothing the ECN can do to solve the matter.

He says over 400 people have casted their votes, so far, in the Oshana region.

The presiding officer at Oluno community hall at Ondangwa, Immanuel Kalla, told The Namibian that the voting process is going well and they have only experienced minor challenges with the voting process.

“We started off very well, however we could not start the process on time because we had issues with the voter’s verification device machine. The atmosphere is exciting because the people are really eager to vote,” he says.