Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Banner Left
Banner Right

NEFF candidate ‘not qualified to vote’

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.

Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!

Latest News