Maria David
THE Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) Oshana Regional Electoral Officer, Amon-Oiva Haimbangu, announced that all election officials in the region will be deployed this week.
Haimbangu highlighted that this step underscores the thorough preparations underway to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.
According to Haimbangu, a total of 1,280 polling officers, including presiding officers, have been trained and will be deployed on Monday and Tuesday.
“The election officials were trained on election management processes. We are ready. So far, we have nearly completed the intensive training of our presiding and polling officials,” he said.
Haimbangu added that they have secured vehicles and are in the process of acquiring tents, chairs, and generators to support the election process.
He emphasized that these officials will play a crucial role in overseeing the electoral process, from voter registration to ballot counting, ensuring that the voices of Namibians are heard and respected.
Meanwhile, ECN Voter Education Head in Oshana, Christine Aushona, expressed concerns over the low turnout of eligible voters at voter education sessions, despite intensive efforts to educate the electorate.
“This alarming trend raises concerns about the quality of our democratic processes and the potential for uninformed decision-making,” Aushona said.
She stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of this issue and implementing effective strategies to ensure an informed community.
“We face the challenge of eligible voters not attending voter education sessions. Many depend on announcements by councillors, and without these, they don’t attend our meetings,” she explained.
Aushona also said logistical challenges, such as the late delivery of materials, particularly ballot paper samples, which arrived in smaller quantities than needed.
Additionally, she pointed out that most ECN vehicles are issued without spare wheels, and some are not roadworthy, which poses further challenges to the smooth execution of the electoral process.
