Last-minute rush as deadline for voter registration approaches

With the deadline for voter registration fast approaching, several people have been rushing to registration points countrywide.

Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) Oshana region coordinator Amon Haimbangu yesterday said the commission has registered quite a high number of eligible voters in the region this week.

“We have registered so many people these past few days only, and most of them are the youth. On Tuesday night, we closed off really late because most of our registration points were packed.

“Most people only turn up to register late in the evening or when they knock off. We are impressed by the turnout,” he said.

According to the preliminary statistics for the general registration of voters recorded from 3 June to 27 July, the Oshana region has the third highest number of registered voters, with more than 89% of eligible voters registered in the region.

ECN spokesperson De Wet Siluka, in a press statement, calls on all eligible voters to register before the deadline.

A voter registration education officer in the Zambezi region, Sammy Muhau, says since the registration period started, registration points were quiet. However, the numbers picked up two weeks ago.

He says more older people showed up at first, but this has now changed to more young people showing up.

“The 27 teams in the region were enough to cater for everyone on time. However, as you know, our people like last-minute things. Now they are flocking,” he says.

An increase in voters registering was also observed at Lüderitz on Wednesday.

“Registration has been quite slow, but because the due date is tomorrow, we are experiencing an increase,” an ECN team leader said.

In Windhoek, a ECN official at the Van Rhyn Primary School registration point, Otja Tjivikua, says people have been showing up.

Ivon Tjavara, a team leader at a registration station at Katutura, says people have been showing up in large numb
ers for the past few days.