Mixed results for opposition in regional polls

NOW HARD WORK ... Swapo members parade through the streets of Khorixas on Saturday, after a historical win in Friday's Regional Council and Local Authority elections. Photo: Nampa

THE 2015 regional council election has produced a mixed bag of results for Namibia’s opposition parties so far.

According to official results announced by the Electoral Commission of Namibia, Nudo has held on to the Otjinene constituency in the Omaheke region and the Okakarara constituency in Otjozondjupa, and also won the Omatako constituency in Otjozondjupa from the Swapo Party.

Swapo also lost the Otjombinde constituency in Omaheke to an independent candidate, Katjanaa Chester Kaurivi, who received 1 396 votes – more than double the 681 votes polled by Swapo candidate Karri Aaron Marenga.

In the Omatako constituency, the Nudo candidate, Israel Hukuva, beat Swapo candidate Susana Hikopua by 1 187 votes to 1 144 – a slim majority of 43 votes.

The UDF has so far lost the Kunene region constituencies of Khorixas, Kamanjab and Sesfontein – both UDF strongholds previously – to Swapo, but scored a victory over the ruling party in the Dâures constituency in Erongo.

At Khorixas, Swapo candidate Elias Xoagub beat the UDF’s Sebastiaan !Gobs by 2 554 votes to 2 008.

At Sesfontein, Swapo’s candidate, Julius Koujova, received 1 514 votes, while his closest challenger, the UDF’s Hendrik Goabaeb, received 1 063 votes. Two independent candidates and an RDP candidate in the Sesfontein constituency received a combined 687 votes – more than the vote difference between the Swapo and UDF candidates.

While the DTA held on to the Epupa and Opuwo Rural constituencies in Kunene, the UDF’s loss of three constituencies in the region and Swapo’s win in the Kamanjab and Opuwo Urban constituencies will see the ruling party capturing a majority of seats in the Kunene Regional Council for the first time.

DTA candidate Nguzu Muharukua was chosen by 3 672 voters at Epupa, while Swapo’s Jona Kakordo received 3 260 votes. In the Opuwo Rural constituency, 2 209 voters opted for the DTA’s candidate, Kazeongere Tjeundo, while 732 votes were cast for Swapo’s Agnes Musaso and Nudo’s candidate, Japiavi Mbinge, received 895 votes.

In Hardap, the United People’s Movement candidate in the Rehoboth Urban West constituency, Laurena Christ, beat the Swapo candidate, agriculture deputy minister Theo Diergaardt, after receiving 1 975 votes to Diergaardt’s 1 479.

The Rally for Democracy and Progress has lost the Windhoek East constituency, which it won in the 2010 regional council election. Swapo candidate Ruusa Joyce Namuhuja beat the RDP’s candidate, Jens Schneider, by 1 795 votes to 1 169, while DTA candidate Reggie Diergaardt received 743 votes – which is more than Namuhuja’s majority over Schneider.

Article: Werner Menges

Kauandenge happy with Katutura Central Election results

Joseph Kauandenge

National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) presidential spokesperson and advisor Joseph Kauandenge is happy with the outcome of the Regional Council Election for Katutura Central Constituency, which he also competed in but lost.
Kauandenge ran against DTA of Namibia candidate Bensen Utarera Jazikua Katjirijova, and incumbent Swapo councillor Ambrosius Kandjii, who retained his seat.
Kauandenge received 920 votes, Katjirijova 718, and Kandjii 3 009 votes after voting on Friday.
The Nudo politician said that although he did not win, his party managed to win a seat on the Windhoek Municipality in the Local Authority Election, and they also won the Omatako Constituency in the Otjozonjupa Region, which belonged to Swapo since Independence.
“The victories have added to the number of constituencies under Nudo countrywide,” he said, adding that these elections showed that their party’s voters have increased compared to previous years, and this makes Kauandenge happy.
He noted that it was his first time to contest these elections (Regional Council) and therefore people are still getting to know him, but he hopes to make it in the next elections.
“Many people didn’t turn up for voting though, and it’s because they have lost hope in the current councillors who do not fulfil their promises,” said Kauandenge.
The Regional Council and Local Authority Elections took place Friday.
-Nampa

Man allegedly casts wrong vote on behalf of another

WRONG BUTTON ... Voters queue up at a polling station in Gobabis for the 2015 Regional Council and Local Authority Elections. A man was arrested on Friday for allegedly casting a vote on behalf of someone else at the Okamatapati fixed polling station. Photo: Nampa

A 39-year-old man was arrested on Friday for allegedly casting a vote on behalf of someone else at the Okamatapati fixed polling station during the Regional Council and Local Authority Elections.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)’s Otjozondjupa Regional Coordinator, Faith Matladi confirmed the incident to Nampa in an interview on Saturday – one day after the polls closed.
Matladi said the complainant opened a case against the suspect who he had asked for assistance to cast his vote for the Swapo party. The suspect allegedly instead voted for the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo).
The complainant and the suspect apparently know each other and when they were at the Regional Council voting booth, the complainant asked the suspect to assist him to vote for the Swapo party. The suspect allegedly pressed the button alongside the Nudo candidate and cast the vote.
Matladi said the complainant then immediately alerted both the ECN officials and members of the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) who were working at the Okamatapati polling station.
Okamatapati is situated nearly 100 kilometres east of Okakarara in the Okakarara Constituency of Otjozondjupa Region.
The NamPol Otjozondjupa police chief of operations, Chief Inspector Levi Richter told this news agency on Sunday that the suspect has been arrested and charged with contravening the Electoral Act, Act No 24 of 1992 Section (A) and (B).
The Act prohibits the use of violence or force to compel or induce another person to vote or to refrain from voting in any election. It also prohibits compelling someone to vote or refrain from voting in any election or to vote in favour of a particular party or candidate by way of any fraudulent devices or contrivance.
He said if the accused is found guilty of an offence he or she will on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding N$20 000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or both.
Richter said the case was opened by the complainant himself against the 39-year-old male suspect at the Okamatapati police station under CR 02/11/2015.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Okakarara Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Police investigations into the matter continue.
-Nampa

RDP loses Windhoek East

Jens Schneider (RDP)

The RDP lost their only Regional Council seat in Windhoek East to Swapo.
Interesting that combined the DTA and RDP gained more votes that Swapo.
Ruusa Namuhuja (Swapo) 1,795
Jens Schneider (RDP) 1,169
Reggie Diergaardt (DTA) 743

Source: Election Watch Namibia

Steve Biko Booys rules the roost in Okahandja again

Steve Biko Booys

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in the Otjozondjupa Region on Saturday announced the provisional election results for the Okahandja Regional Council and Local Authority Elections.
A total of 4 544 votes were counted in the Regional Council Election in the Okahandja Constituency on Saturday morning.
DTA of Namibia’s Sophia Basson got 763 votes, independent candidate Welfriedt Goaseb obtained 501 votes and incumbent constituency councillor Steve Biko Booys of Swapo 3 280 votes.
That result was confirmed by ECN Chairperson, Notemba Tjipueja just after 19h00 today.
In the Local Authority Elections, a total of 3 650 votes were counted, and the All People’s Party (APP) obtained 71 votes; DTA of Namibia 236; Nudo 156; Okahandja Rate Payers Association 176; RP 60; RDP 112; Swapo 2 572; UDF 213; UPM 40; and Workers Revolutionary Party 14.
Five seats were allocated to Swapo, while DTA and UDF each obtained one seat on the Okahandja Town Council.
-Nampa

Swapo dominates Windhoek City Council

The seat allocation for the Windhoek City Council has been decided. Swapo will have 12 seats, RDP 1, DTA 1, Nudo 1.
Source: Election Watch Namibia

Swapo reclaims opposition-ruled councils in //Karas

CHALLENGERS ... Some of the //Karas Region DTA candidates for the Local Authority and Regional Council Elections. Swapo won most of the seats in the region. Photo: Nampa

THE Swapo Party has reclaimed almost all opposition-dominated local authority councils in the //Karas Region, while it has retained all seven regional constituencies in the regional and local authorities elections on Friday.

Provisional results indicate that Swapo has regained control of //Karas local authority councils that include Keetmanshoop, Karasburg, Bethanie, Koës and Berseba.

Opposition parties only retained control of the Aroab Village Council.

According to the provisional results, Swapo regional council candidates won in the constituencies of Keetmanshoop Rural, Keetmanshoop Urban, Karasburg East, Berseba, and Oranjemund, while a Swapo candidate was also elected in the new Karasburg West constituency.

The party's candidate for the !Nami≠Nûs constituency, Jan Scholtz, won the regional council election in that constituency, which includes Lüderitz, unopposed.

A visibly delighted //Karas Swapo coordinator, Mathew Mumbala, said he expected victory across the region.

"I am a happy,” said Mumbala, thanking the regional and national leadership and party members, supporters and sympathisers for their hard work in ensuring that the party came out victorious in the elections.

The provisional results are as follows:

LOCAL AUTHORITY

Keetmanshoop Town Council

DTA – 538 ( 1 seat)

DPN – 52

RDP – 186 (1 seat)

RP - 141

Swapo Party - 2 337 ( 5 seats)

WRP – 35

Karasburg Town Council

DTA – 204 (2 seats)

Swapo – 586 (5 seats)

RDP – 45

RP – 36

DPN – 22

Aroab Village Council

Swapo – 264 (2 seats)

RDP – 89 (1 seat)

DTA – 216 (2 seats)

Berseba Village Council

DTA – 200 ( 2 seats)

RDP – 45 (no seats)

Swapo – 266 (3 seats)

Bethanie Village Council

DTA – 188 (2)

RDP – 47 (0)

Swapo – 278 (3 seats)

Koës Village Council

DTA – 105 (1 seat)

RDP – 57 (1 seat)

Swapo – 336 (3 seats)

Tses Village Council

DTA – 156 (2 seats)

Swapo – 260 (3)

REGIONAL ELECTION

Berseba

Dawid Boois (Swapo) – 1 774

Metusalag Trougot Kaffer (RDP) – 148

Diederick Isaak Vries (DTA) – 901

Karasburg East

Dennis Benjamin Coetzee (Swapo) – 1 602

Albertus Laurentius Jossoph (DTA) – 504

Karasburg West

Paulus Amukoshi Ephraim (Swapo) – 566

Charles Leon Peter (DTA) – 222

Elias Tulonga Shipani (RDP) – 97

Keetmanshoop Rural

Elias Kharuxab (Swapo) – 1 288

Willem Martin Stephanus (RDP) – 269

Moses Timotheus Titus (DTA) – 474

Keetmanshoop Urban

Fredrika Kulhmann (DTA) – 551

Hilma Ndinelago (Swapo) – 2 291

Peter John Visser (RDP) – 378

Article: Luqman Cloete 

Swapo conquers all Hardap councils

SWAPO CLEAN SWEEP ... Voters in Rehoboth queue to vote yesterday. Swapo won 4 519 votes (four seats) and UPM 3 101 votes (three seats) on the Rehoboth Town Council.

Provisional results of the 2015 Local Authority Election indicate that Swapo has won all eight town councils in the Hardap Region.
In Mariental, Swapo received 1 325 votes; DTA of Namibia 139; and Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) 93. Provisionally, Swapo gets six seats and the DTA one seat on the Mariental Municipality.
In Rehoboth, Swapo won 4 519 votes (four seats); UPM 3 101 votes (three seats); DTA 482 votes; RDP 179 votes, and UDF 99 votes.
In Gochas, Swapo obtained 326 votes (three seats); DTA scored 96 votes (one seat); Congress of Democrats (CoD) 36 (one seat); and RDP 29.
In Aranos, Swapo won 598 votes (four seats); RDP 246 votes (two seats); DTA 194 (one seat); and Republican Party (RP) 78 votes.
In Stampriet, Swapo won 460 votes (four seats), DTA 63 votes (one seat) and RDP 32 votes (no seat).
In Gideon, Swapo won 680 votes (four seats); DTA 82 votes (one seat) and APP 40 votes (no seat).
In Kalkrand, Swapo won 399 votes (four seats); RDP 121 votes (one seat), DTA 26 votes; and APP 26 votes.
In Maltahohe, Swapo won 511 votes (four seats); APP 109 votes (one seat); DPN 51 votes; and the DTA and RDP each received 32 votes.
-Nampa

RDP possible kingmaker in Aroab tie

DIRE ... Veronica Cloete and her children, who are part of some 15 houses at the Aroab Village without water in their houses. Photo: Nampa file

The Swapo party and DTA of Namibia will each have two seats on the Aroab Village Council, according to ECN provisional results issued on Saturday.
The remaining seat is expected to go to the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP).
Out of 569 votes cast, Swapo won 264, followed by DTA with 216 and RDP with 89.
The tallies were confirmed by Aroab Returning Officer, Abraham Thomas on Saturday.
In 2014 Aroab had 902 registered voters. In 2010 the village had 1 263 voters.
Aroab is located 130 km east of Keetmanshoop and is part of the Keetmanshoop Rural Constituency.
-Nampa

Swapo victorious in Kamanjab, Sesfontein, Opuwo Urban

KUNENE COWBOY … The appointment of former DTA president Katuutire Kaura as adviser to the Kunene regional governor has not gone down well with opposition parties. Has Kaura accepting a government job handed a narrow victory to Swapo in his old stomping ground, Opuwo?

Swapo wrestled the Sesfontein and Kamanjab regional council seats from the UDF and narrowly beat DTA to Opuwo Urban constituencies.

Opuwo was split into two after the findings of the fourth Delimitation Commission in 2013.

Sesfontein

Swapo: 1 514

UDF 1 063

Independent candidate: 272

Independent candidate: 328

RDP: 87

Kamanjab

Swapo: 1 164

UDF: 896

Opuwo Urban

Regional Council

Swapo: 2 431

DTA: 2 396

Nudo: 264

Opuwo Urban

Local Authority

Swapo: 1 593

DTA: 1 504

Nudo: 155

RDP: 44

Swapo will have four of the LA seats and DTA three.

What is the cause of voter apathy?

Sictus Isaacks

In //Karas only about 30% of voters bothered to vote according to Electoral Commission of Namibia  representative, Sictus Isaacks.
Is it any higher in other regions?
Was it a protest?
Were voters just not interested? 
Is Swapo's dominance in all elections contributing to voter apathy?
Did they stay away because local councils are so poorly run?
Was it too close to the more fancied Presidential and National Assembly elections? 

Can the lack of or low key campaigns of political parties be blamed?

Is it because of the low profile of the National Council that voters are not interested?

Do voters know what the job of the National council is? 

What does the low turn out say about the legitimacy of the elections and of the councils?

What should be done in rejuvenating voters' participation in these elections?

Mensah-Williams cruises past opposition

Margaret Mensah-Williams

Veteran National Council member Margaret Mensah-Williams retained her Khomasdal constituency seat in the regional election.  
 
Total votes: 5 407
Nudo - 384
Swanu - 170
DTA - 732
Swapo - 4 121

Nudo retains Okakarara regional council constituency

Vetaruhe Kandorozu

Vetaruhe Kandorozu, whose re-election as candidate in that constituency caused ructions in Nudo, after seven members cried foul and were expelled earlier this year, retained the Okakarara constituency.


Okakarara Constituency Regional council preliminary results

Registered Voters: 14 345
NUDO - Vetaruhe Kandorozu - 3 682
SWAPO - Jonathan Tjakuva - 2 126
DTA - Abdal Mutjavikua - 1 702
SWANU - Urika Mujazu -1 000

From Election Watch Namibia

Diergaardt loses to UPM candidate

SHOCK RESULT ... Theo Diergaardt voting yesterday. He lost his seat in the Rehoboth Urban West constituency to UPM.

Preliminary results show that deputy minister and Rehoboth Urban West councillor Theo Diergaardt has lost the constituency to the UPM candidate:

Rehoboth Urban West Regional Council
Registered Voters 7462:
UPM -1975
Swapo - 1479
DTA -159

From Election Watch Namibia

Independence is coming... or not?

Independent candidate, Katjanaa Kaurivi won the Otjombinde constituency (1 396 votes) in the Omaheke region, according to preliminary results.
Swapo lost the Otjombinde constituency:
Swapo's Karii Marenga (681)
Swanu’s Mati Ndjoze (267) 
DTA's Computer Katjiremba (134)

How did other independent candidates fare?

APP may decide to not accept election results after EVM missing

Vincent Kanyetu

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) says the stolen Electoral Voting Machine (EVM) in the Kavango East Region is not one of the machines used in the election, but was used for voter education.
Chairperson of ECN, Nothemba Tjipueja cleared the air on this issue during a media briefing held in Windhoek on Friday.
According to her, the missing EVM has not affected the election process at any of the polling stations in Kavango East.
All People’s Party (APP) member, Vincent Kanyetu said he was disappointed in the commission for not communicating on time to various political parties that an EVM had gone missing.
Kanyetu told Nampa on Thursday his party first picked up the information as a rumour from community members and to confirm their suspicions, he decided to approach the police at Rundu as well as the ECN Regional Coordinator for Kavango East Region, Protasius Ihemba.
Both Ihemba and the police confirmed that a ballot unit had been reported stolen.
The missing ballot unit, with the serial number BEL – BU – E05811, was reported as missing to the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in Rundu by voter education officer Rosvita Siunze on Monday.
According to a police statement in Nampa’s possession, the ballot unit went missing or was stolen in the visitors’ parking lot at the Rundu State Hospital where Siunze went to visit her sick mother in hospital.
News of the missing EVM also did not sit well with the APP Election Coordinator, Maria Kamtali, who told Nampa on Thursday that her party could decide not to accept the election results as this machine could be used to rig the 2015 Regional Council and Local Authority Elections.
This could also ruin the party's chances of winning in the Mashare, Rundu Rural and Ncuncuni constituencies, which according to her, are the stronghold of the party.
In response, ECN Director of Elections Paul Isaak in a telephonic interview with Nampa on Friday echoed the same sentiments as Tjipueja, saying that particular EVM was under the custody of the voter education officer and is not part of those used in the elections.
“The EVM was used for voter education, for demonstration purposes. And in no way was it used for election purposes today. Thus, the machine has no bearing whatsoever on the elections,” he said.
-Nampa

Arrest at polling station

Couple arrested for disturbing and violating election procedures at the Eddie Bowe Primary School polling station in Khorixas. More to follow...

Okakarara polling stations dry

Naomi Katjitae

The steady stream of voters has dried up at polling stations at Okakarara.

One of those who cast her vote at Okakarara Old Age Home was 56-year-old Naomi Katjitae.

She is a visually impaired mother of a dozen children. She said she braved the heat to vote in the hope that the disabled will be seen as human beings whose needs are taken into account.

By 16h00 about 200 people voted at the old age home in Okakarara.

Presiding officers say about 75% of those were old people.

Presiding officers at the Okakarara Vocational Training Centre say 240 voters cast their votes in the Local Authority elections while 420 cast their votes for regional councillors.
ECN officials at Okakarara State Hospital said there were 286 votes cast for regional councils while only 226 were recorded for local authority elections.
At the Okakarara Community Hall 275 votes were cast for local authority elections and 356 votes for regional councils.
At Okakarara police station 270 votes were cast for local authority elections and 361 for regional councils.
Okakarara has over 12 900 registered voters.

Men seek jobs on election day

NO VOTE ... Job seekers along David Hosea Meroro Road opted not to vote for Regional Council and Local Authority Elections on Friday. Photo: Nampa

While thousands queue up at polling stations, some as early as 02h00, two young men seek jobs along David Hosea Meroro Road in the Hochland Park area of the capital.
Festus Kamati Shiimi, 22, and Erastus Nuukule, 20, told Nampa in an interview on Friday they sit along the same road every day from 07h00 in the morning until 17h00 in the afternoon waiting for someone to hire them, even if it is just temporarily.
“I will not stand in those long lines and vote for people who do not bring any changes to my life. Last year I voted, but I am still unemployed and that is why I have to sit here, hoping every day to make a little money in order to survive,” said Shiimi.
Nuukule expressed anger towards Namibian leaders, saying that after elections they turn their backs on the people who voted for them, leaving them to suffer.
“So you want me to vote for those people so that they can have good lifestyles, while I still remain poor sitting along the road in the sun hoping to get a part-time job. I will not do that,” he stressed.
They are referring to the 2015 Regional Council and Local Authority Elections underway countrywide on Friday.
Both men are willing to do any jobs, including cleaning yards, sweeping pavements and also gardening; and are usually paid between N$50 and N$150.
Shiimi holds a Grade 12 certificate but had to drop out after two years of studying Radio and Television Mechanics at the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (WVTC) due to lack of funds.
He explained that for him it is not worth voting as the leaders they vote for do not bring any development to the constituencies they are representing.
Shiimi feels the councillors do not provide or assist them with any jobs, proper community services or even funds for them to study.
“It’s not like we are not educated. We have Grade 12 certificates but still our leaders are failing to get us jobs or help us get funds to pay for our studies,” he added.
Nuukule, who left school at Grade 10, added that the Namibian Government is corrupt and whether he votes or not, his vote will not make any changes to his jobless lifestyle, neither will it stop corruption in the country.
Meanwhile, voting continues in other parts of the country until 21h00.
-Nampa

ECN mobile team lost in Okakarara, EVM stolen in Kavango East

Notemba Tjipueja

An Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) mobile team got lost on their way to serving nine points in the Okakarara Constituency in the Otjozondjupa Region Friday morning.
ECN Chairperson, Notemba Tjipueja announced this at a media briefing here on Friday while updating the public on the commencement of the 2015 Regional Council and Local Authority Elections.
Tjipueja noted that this team delayed the start of voting at the nine polling stations, as they only started operating around noon on Friday.
She indicated that the ECN managed to put together a relief team that would service the polling stations that were missed in the morning.
A total of 89 165 voters are registered by the ECN in the Otjozondjupa Region, and there are 52 fixed polling stations and 126 mobile teams.
In the Kavango East region, Tjipueja reported that one of the ECN vehicles had been broken into and that the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) was stolen.
However, she said, the EVM reported to be stolen was not one of the EVMs to be used for the elections, but was assigned for voter education.
“This matter has been reported to the police in that region and investigations are underway,” she said.
Namibia is Friday using the EVMs for the second time after the machines were used for the first time in 2014 during the National Assembly and Presidential Elections; setting a standard as the first country in Africa to do so.
-Nampa

Groot Aub polling stations are empty

 By 16h00 411 voters had cast their votes at Groot Aub Primary School in the Windhoek Rural constituency since this morning.

Most of the polling stations are empty in Groot Aub at the moment.

Republican Party (RP) agent Sara Gorases said during last year's Presidential and National Asssembly elections the polls were full until 22h00 but there does not seem to be the same level of interest this time around.

Another RP party agent Lourencia Damases based at the Groot Aub Oshakati polling station said they have recorded 200 voters so far.

Although it is quiet now she is confident the numbers will increase once those who work in Windhoek return after 17h00.

'Deceased' people attempt to vote

DYING TO VOTE ... Two people were prevented from voting in the capital after the voter cards they presented were declared invalid and the holders thereof described as deceased.

Two people were prevented from voting in the capital after the voter cards they presented were declared invalid and the holders thereof described as deceased.
One such incident was recorded at the Moses Garoeb Project School polling station in the constituency of the same name.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) presiding officer at that voting venue, Silas Ipumbu told Nampa on Friday the person’s card read ‘invalid’ when entered into the voters’ verification device (VVD), and the person’s name also did not appear on the voters’ roll.
He added that information from the Ministry of Home Affairs showed the person under that name is deceased.
A similar incident was recorded at the Otjomuise Woermann Brock Shopping Centre polling station.
ECN Presiding Officer there, Naftali Tomanga told Nampa on Friday that information on their VVD show the holder is “no more”.
He said the VVD displayed the message: “return voter card and refuse voter”.
“We have confiscated the card that belongs to a deceased person and the person attempting to use that card was sent back. He was not arrested. I have the card that I will present to my ECN returning officer, Petrus Ashipala,” he said.
Meanwhile, Presiding Officer for the Ministry of Health Clinic polling station, Ndeshihafela Nghikongelwa said they sent back about eight voters to the constituencies where they were registered.
ECN presiding officer of the Ramatex Main Entrance polling station, Venongapi Rukoro said a few people were sent back for not providing their voters’ cards, claiming that these were lost.
Rukoro said in that case, registered voters without voters’ cards are required to provide Namibian Police declarations, stating that their cards are lost.
Namibians are voting in the 2015 Regional Council and Local Authority Elections countrywide. Voting ends at 21h00.
-Nampa

Voter breaks EVM in Khorixas

DAMAGED ... The broken Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) ballot unit that allegedly fell from the lap of a wheelchair-bound voter during the Regional Council and Local Authority elections underway at the Eddie Bowe Primary School hall in here on Friday. Photo: Nampa 

A voter allegedly broke an electronic voting machine (EVM) during the Regional Council and Local Authority elections underway in Khorixas on Friday.
Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) Presiding Officer for the Khorixas Constituency, Jacqueline Amamus told members of the media the woman, who uses a wheelchair, was assisted by an ECN official to cast her vote and during that process she accidentally dropped the EVM.
“The voter placed the EVM on her lap and it accidentally fell and broke,” she explained.
“Immediately” after the incident according to Amamus, ECN officials called the party agents to witness what had happened.
“After the party agents witnessed the incident, they called me. When I arrived at the Eddie Bowe Primary School Hall polling station, I saw that the ballot unit was cracked open. Together with the party agents, ECN officials pressed the total button to record the last total before replacing the unit. When we got the spare ballot unit from the Khorixas Police Station, we verified the ballot unit, and entered the recorded total figure.”
Amamus said the election process resumed shortly after the unit was replaced.
About 7 977 registered voters are expected to hit the polls on Friday from 07h00 to 21h00 and elect who they would like to be in charge of development projects in their region and constituency.
Voter turnout experienced at the eight fixed polling stations has been low so far. There are 15 teams of mobile polling stations ensuring that every person can practice their right to vote.
-Nampa

Past results show opposition in retreat

 

VETERAN … Margaret Mensah-Williams is the Vice-Chairperson of National Council, a Swapo regional councillor in the Khomasdal constituency in Windhoek. Mensah-Williams has been a member of the National Council since 1999.

PAST regional council election results indicate a pattern of falling support for Namibia's opposition parties and increasing electoral success for the ruling Swapo Party.

Two opposition parties – the DTA and United Democratic Front – won 24 out of Namibia's 95 constituencies in the country's first regional council election in 1992. Since then, though, opposition parties' share of regional council seats has been in decline, with the DTA, UDF and Nudo winning a combined total of only nine constituencies in the regional council election of 2010.

In 1992, Namibia's voters elected 21 DTA regional councillors. UDF regional councillors were elected in three constituencies – Khorixas and Sesfontein in the Kunene region and Brandberg (now Dâures) in Erongo.

With DTA regional councillors elected in the then Caprivi and the Kunene, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas and Omaheke regions, the DTA had majorities in the regional councils of Caprivi, Hardap and Omaheke.

A high voter turnout of 81% was recorded in the 1992 regional council election.

The DTA scored close to 28% of valid votes cast in that election. Swapo's share of the vote was close to 69%.

By the next election of regional councillors, in 1998, voter turnout had fallen to 39,9%.

Support for the DTA had also declined from 1992 to 1998. While the number of constituencies in Namibia had increased to 102, DTA regional councillors were elected in 16 constituencies in 1998. The DTA's share of valid votes cast had decreased to 24,5%.

Four UDF candidates scored victories in that regional election.

Swapo's share of regional council seats increased from 71 in 1992 to 82 after the 1998 election.

In the 2004 regional council election, support for the DTA plummeted further, to about 5,5% of the votes cast.

After the 2004 election, the DTA had lost all of the regional council seats it had previously held in Caprivi, Hardap, Karas, Khomas and Omaheke, but managed to hold on to two constituencies in Kunene (Epupa and Opuwo). The UDF increased its share of regional council seats to five in 2004 (Khorixas, Kamanjab and Sesfontein in Kunene, and Omaruru and Dâures in Erongo). In the same election, Nudo – formerly a DTA member party – won three constituencies previously held by the DTA (Aminuis and Otjinene in Omaheke, and Okakarara in Otjozondjupa), while Swanu scored a surprise win in the Otjombinde constituency in Omaheke.

Having increased to 82 in 1998, Swapo's tally of regional council seats grew further to 96 in 2004.

A voter turnout of 55% was registered in the 2004 regional election, but in the 2010 election, voter turnout was down to about 38,6%.

Nudo held on to its three regional council seats in 2010, the DTA again won in Epupa and Opuwo, and the Rally for Democracy and Progress won Windhoek East in Khomas from Swapo, but the UDF saw its number of regional councillors decrease by two, after losing Dâures and Omaruru, and Swanu lost Otjombinde to Swapo.

Last year's National Assembly election results could be a prediction of further setbacks for Namibia's opposition parties.

While opposition party candidates had scored majorities over Swapo candidates in nine constituencies in 2010, opposition parties won majorities over Swapo in only five constituencies in 2014.

These were Rehoboth Urban West in Hardap, where the United People's Movement ended up pipping Swapo to the post with a paper-thin majority of two votes, Opuwo Rural, won by the DTA, and Aminuis, Otjinene and Okakarara, where Nudo was the majority party.

Ominously for the UDF, it did not score a majority in any constituency last year.

In four constituencies where Swapo was the majority party in last year's National Assembly election, opposition parties' combined tally of votes was higher than the number of votes cast for Swapo, though. Those constituencies were Dâures, Epupa, Sesfontein, and Katutura Central in Khomas.

That was also a retreat for opposition parties from the situation in the 2010 election, when those parties collectively won more than half of the votes cast in 11 constituencies in which Swapo was the majority party.

No opposition party has ever won a constituency in the former Kavango region, Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, and Omusati.

Following the election, each of Namibia's 14 regional councils will be choosing three of its members to become members of the National Council, which has been dominated by Swapo since 1992.

Chain shops are open for business, polling stations are empty

 

BUSINESS AS USUAL ... The Grove Mall in Windhoek's Kleine Kuppe suburb is packed with shoppers. The lines at parking ticket metres are much longer than the lines at the polls in Cimbebasia and Kleine Kuppe.

Shoprite workers at Rehoboth's mall said they were forced to work from 08h00 to 19h00 today.

They claim managers said today was a normal working day and blame the presidency for announcing Friday 27 November a public holiday, at the last minute.

Workers say they were only given an hour to go vote which they say is not enough due to the long queues at polling stations in the town early today.

Most South African chain shops such as Clicks, OK Furniture, Steers and some Chinese shops in the town are open for business.

Some Namibian-owned companies like MTC and some cafes did not open their doors today.

A manager at Shoprite/Checkers, Schalk Pienaar, based in Windhoek, said it is not true that workers are not allowed to take time off to vote because the company scheduled their times for each worker to be given a chance to vote.

He also said those who could not vote are those who were not registered in Rehoboth but elsewhere in other constituencies.

Most polling stations in Rehoboth were completely empty by 15h00 although there were long queues early in the day.
By 15h15 today 341 voters cast their vote at the Rehoboth Town Council polling station in the Rehoboth Urban West constituency.

Polling stations close at 21h00.

WAITING FOR VOTERS ... The polling station at Kleine Kuppe has no voters.

No benefits from elections: Teacher

JOIN US ... Governor of the Kunene region Angelikka Muharukua casting her vote at Ovinjange. Photo: Nampa

 Some members of the Kunene region community decided not to vote because they do not trust the candidates.
“Most of the candidates have not achieved anything in their own homes. How do they expect us to believe that they will make a change in our lives if they can’t manage their own?” a community member told Nampa here on Friday.
Another registered voter and teacher by profession echoed similar sentiments, saying she does not see any benefits from the current elections.
Their comments follow hot on the heels of an appeal by the governor of the Kunene region, Angelika Muharukua for the people in her region to go to the polls and cast their votes as this is the only way to contribute to the national decision-making process.
“I appeal to all of you who are at home to please come to the polling stations and cast your vote for any candidate of your choice,” she said.
The governor, however, expressed disappointed by the poor turnout of voters in the Regional Council and Local Authority Elections in Epupa.
Muharukua was the first voter at Ovinjange, a village in the Epupa Constituency, Friday morning.
“The queue is shorter than I expected, but I am hopeful that as the day progresses the number of voters will start picking up,” the governor told this agency.
The youth’s lack of interest in the elections and their absence at polling stations when voting kicked off was registered as a concern by the governor.
Assistant coordinator of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in Kunene North, Theodor Kazombiaze, told Nampa all polling stations opened on time.
He also anticipates that the number of voters will pick up as the day progresses.
“Most of our voters are last-minute voters and it is our expectation that they will all flock to the polls later in the day,” Kazombiaze said.
When this reporter visited some polling stations in Opuwo and its surroundings, only the senior citizens could be seen queuing.
Voting ends at 21h00.
-Nampa

Power problems experienced at Justice polling station

CHANGE OF PLANS ... President Hage Geingob casting his vote for Regional Council and Local Authority Elections at MTC building in Windhoek East Constituency on Friday. Photo: Nampa

 President Hage Geingob was forced to go vote at another polling station than the one scheduled, due to a power failure on Friday morning.
Geingob was set to vote at a tented polling station in front of the Ministry of Justice in the central business district, but eventually voted at the Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) building in Olympia.
He voted in the 2015 Regional Council and Local Authority Elections.
Regional Coordinator of elections in Khomas, Hendrik van Wyk told Nampa on enquiry that arrangements were made in time for the president and his delegation to vote elsewhere.
“We experienced the problem before that polling station opened this morning. Arrangements were then made in time by his (Geingob’s) office before they went there, and they just went from where they were straight to MTC.”
The Head of State was accompanied by First Lady Monica Geingos; the Governor of the Khomas Region Laura McLeod-Katjirua; and the Secretary-General of Swapo Party, Nangolo Mbumba.
Van Wyk said the tent could not get electricity from the Ministry of Justice building in time, but the problem was rectified immediately.
This, he added, did not affect the voting process.
Voting ends at 21h00.

CRICKETS ... Quiet at Eros Shopping Centre polling station earlier this morning.

Rehoboth at the Polls

LEADING BY EXAMPLE ... Swapo candidate and deputy minister of Lands and Resettlement, Theo Diergaardt, casts his vote at the Rehoboth Town Council polling station this morning. Diergaardt said that seeing the large turnout at the polling stations made him a proud Namibian. He went on to say that voters must be considerate and allow the elderly and disabled to be given first priority to cast their vote.

COMMITTED TO DEMOCRACY ... The queue of voters outside the Hermanus van Wyk Community Hall stretched all the way to the street. Voters were determined to exercise their vote and were in good spirits as they patiently waited for their turn.

WAITING THEIR TURN ... Pensioners turned up in numbers at the JTL Beukes Primary School in Rehoboth's Block B area. Party observers said they believe the large turn out was because the elderly have more time on their hands than the youth, who were only a handful who voted so far. By 09h00, the station had recorded over 104 voters since the polls opened at 07h00 this morning.

DETERMINED ... Willie Kusch did not let anything stop him from casting his vote at the Rehoboth Town Council offices this morning.

REHOBOTH FIRST ... Swapo candidate Theo Diergaardt and the DTA Rehoboth West candidate Marthinus Christian Kotze shake hands shortly before casting their votes in the regional council and local authority elections in Rehoboth this morning.

HATS OFF ... UPM national chairperson and member of parliament Jan van Wyk was among the first voters to cast their ballot at the Rehoboth Town Council.

SENIORS SHOW THE WAY ... A pensioner, Helena Cloete, was happy to be able to cast her vote this morning at the Reho Spa polling station. An election observer at one of the Rehoboth polling stations observed that it was mostly older people who had come to vote in the early part of the morning.

SAY YOUR SAY ... Lukas de Klerk, DTA candidate for Rehoboth East, casts his ballot at the JTL Beukes Primary School in Rehoboth this morning.

Photos: Yochanaan Coetzee