Placido Hilukilwa
REGISTERED voters in five different constituencies are expected to go to the polls on the 17th of this month to fill vacancies left by former councillors who became National Assembly members in March this year.
In preparation for the democratic exercise, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has announced the commencement next week of the training and recruitment of polling officials for the by-elections scheduled to take place in five constituencies: Grootfontein and Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa Region; Kabbe South in the Zambezi, and Kamanjab and Sesfontein in the Kunene Region.
The training sessions will start on the 9th and will last until the 14th of June, covering essential topics such as electoral laws and regulations; duties and responsibilities of election officials; completion of relevant electoral forms; voter assistance and engagement; voter verification devices; and polling station layout.
The trainees will also master voting procedures and logistics; the closing of the polls and vote counting procedures; election results uploading and transmission; conflict resolution; and the handling of electoral challenges.
The Kabbe South constituency councillor’s position was left vacant when SWAPO’s John Likando was sworn in as a National Assembly member, replacing Lucia Witbooi who was appointed Namibia’s Vice President.
The former Grootfontein and Otjiwarongo councillors, Elder Filipe and Marlyn Mbakera respectively, were elected to Parliament on the SWAPO ticket during the November 2024 elections.
The same was the case for Kamanjab and Sesfontein, where the UDF’s former councillors Nico Somaeb and Hendrik Gaobaeb were elected as new National Assembly members.
Vying for votes
Only two political parties — SWAPO and the IPC — fielded candidates in Kabbe South, namely Raymond Sezuni and Sydney Mpunga, respectively.
Three candidates are vying for Kamanjab’s vacant post, namely Nicodemus Amutenya (SWAPO), Dansikie Ganaseb (IPC), and Jacob’s Namaseb (UDF).
The four candidates vying for the Sesfontein constituency councillor’s seat are Bernardus Hoeb (UDF), Titus Rungondo (SWAPO), Joshua Kaisuma (PDM), and Bennie Ganaseb (IPC).
Otjiwarongo voters also have four candidates to choose from: Ernst Muraranganda (PDM), Paulus Nekundi (SWAPO), Wilbard Haihambo (IPC), and Manase Gabriel (NEFF).
Contesting the Grootfontein by-election are Nelao Amagulu (SWAPO), Rosina Nusis (PDM), Max Onesus (IPC), and Morris Gaingob (UDF).
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: File
