NAMIBIAN Economic Freedom Fighters candidate Festus Shaduva claims he was turned away by electoral officials when he attempted to cast his vote at Oshakati this morning.
The Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF)’s Shaduva is one of the six candidates contesting in the Oshakati East constituency by-election currently underway.
Shaduva told that he was allegedly informed by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) officials at the Oneshila polling station that he does not qualify to cast his vote because his name does not appear in the old voters registration.
“I just renewed my voters card during the supplementary voters registration in July after misplacing my old one. So, today when I turned up at the polling station, I was turned away by the electoral officials. Apparently I do not qualify to vote because my name does not appear in the old voters’ registration. It is sickening for a candidate to be turned away just like that,” he said.
Contacted for comment, Oshakati East constituency by-election returning officer Ephraim Iiyambo said he was not aware of Shaduva’s case.
He, however, said a number of eligible voters will not be allowed to cast their votes because they do not qualify to vote.
“All those who registered from 8 July until 27 July during the supplementary voters registration will not be allowed to cast their votes because their names do not appear in the published voters registration available at all the polling stations. If your name does not appear in the published voters registration, you do not qualify to vote,” he explained.
He could however not say how many people are affected by this predicament. ECN chief electoral officer Theo Mujoro could not be reached for comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, Iiyambo said that the voters’ turn out is very slow at most polling stations as a number of people are attending festivities this weekend.
The polling stations opened at 07h00 in the morning and are expected to close at 21h00 this evening.
There are about 18,411 registered voters in Oshakati East constituency, according to the ECN.
The position for Oshakati East constituency councillor was necessitated by the death of Lotto Kuushomwa, who died on 27 May.
The results are expected to be announced later this evening.
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