Smooth start to special voting at Oshakati

The special voting process for security and seagoing personnel successfully commenced at Oshakati in the Oshana region on Wednesday morning.

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) presiding officer, Josia Auala, stationed at the Oshakati Police Station, told The Namibian that the voting process began on time at exactly 07h00.

“We arrived here at about 06h00 to set up our equipment and we opened the voting process at exactly 07h00. The process is moving fast because we want every special voter to cast their votes on time. We have not experienced any challenges and most of the security personnel are on their best behaviour. So far, everything is going well and we are satisfied,” he says.

Auala urges security and seagoing personnel to come out in large numbers and cast their votes in time.

Oshana police regional commander commissioner Lungameni Sakaria was one of the early voters to arrive at Oshakati Police Station.

“Everything went well, I did not spend much time inside there because of the great assistance of the voting officials. I did not experience any challenge with the voting process. I am, therefore, calling all the police officers in the region to come out in their numbers and cast their votes. It is crucial for them to exercise their democratic right by casting their votes,” he says.

ECN Oshana regional electoral officer Amon-Oiva Haimbangu says the voting process is smooth sailing in the Oshana region.

So far, more than 200 security and seagoing personnel have cast their votes at the Oshakati Police Station.

“We are expecting about 4 000 security personnel to cast their votes in the Oshana region today. So far, so good, the voting process is well on track and we have not observed any hiccups or complaints so far,” he says.

About 8 000 security and seagoing personnel are expected to cast their votes for the general and National Assembly election on Wednesday during the special voting process.

The polling stations will close at 21h00.

The rest of Namibia will head to the polls on 27 November.