Trouble in Ivory Coast affects Namibian voters

NAMIBIAN peacekeepers in Liberia might not be able to vote because of the unrest in the neighbouring Ivory Coast.

Elections Director Phillemon Kanime told a gathering of Namibian and international observers yesterday that ballot papers sent to Liberia were “stuck” in the Ivory Coast. “We have set up four polling stations in Liberia because people are scattered all over the country.But, we have a problem in that the material is stranded in Abidjan.We are working on it,” Kanime said.The elections in Liberia will be administered by a returning officer from Namibia’s High Commission in Nigeria.Namibia has 855 peacekeepers in Liberia – 844 troops, six civilian police, four staff officers and three military observers.They are responsible for securing and safeguarding the western corridor between Liberia and Sierra Leone.They were deployed in February this year under the United Nations.The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, Victor Tonchi, said 1 051 Namibians abroad were expected to vote at 19 missions on Monday and Tuesday.In the 1999 presidential and national elections, a mere 350 Namibians living abroad voted.It appears that many Namibian expatriates were either not registered or did not have their voting cards with them.Others were not able to travel long distances to the embassies.”We have set up four polling stations in Liberia because people are scattered all over the country.But, we have a problem in that the material is stranded in Abidjan.We are working on it,” Kanime said.The elections in Liberia will be administered by a returning officer from Namibia’s High Commission in Nigeria.Namibia has 855 peacekeepers in Liberia – 844 troops, six civilian police, four staff officers and three military observers.They are responsible for securing and safeguarding the western corridor between Liberia and Sierra Leone.They were deployed in February this year under the United Nations.The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, Victor Tonchi, said 1 051 Namibians abroad were expected to vote at 19 missions on Monday and Tuesday.In the 1999 presidential and national elections, a mere 350 Namibians living abroad voted.It appears that many Namibian expatriates were either not registered or did not have their voting cards with them.Others were not able to travel long distances to the embassies.