Honourable James Sankwasa, some town councils, 35 years after Independence, are deliberately violating the Namibian Constitution, in broad daylight by requesting unemployed Namibians to submit, among other things, a certified copy of their voter registration card when applying for jobs. This, happening in an independent Namibia is very sad, very heartbreaking and disappointing, to say the least.

The Outapi Town Council recently advertised vacancies for 24 cleaners, with 13 June 2025 as the deadline for applications. This council, among other employment requirements, requested those wishing to be employed there to also attach a certified copy of their voter registration card. 

Honourable minister, are we now saying as a nation that those who do not have a voter’s registration card should not apply for jobs at a government institution? Taking into account that you swore to respect, uphold, honour and defend, the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, I would like to bring this highly disturbing reality to your attention and to seek clarity on the Namibian government’s official position on this very delicate matter of public and national interest, especially to the many unemployed Namibians who wish to work for a local government entity such as a town council.

Based on Chapter 3, Article 10.1 of our Constitution, it is clearly stated that all persons shall be equal before the law, and Article 10.2 further states that no person may be discriminated against based on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed, or social or economic status. In addition to this, Chapter 3, Article 21.1 g and h of our national Constitution further clearly states that (1) all persons shall have the right to: g) move freely throughout Namibia; h) reside and settle in any part of Namibia; j) practise any profession, or carry on any occupation, trade or business

With these very clear fundamental tenets of our constitution, I would like to publicly ask you just one very basic question as follows: Is it now government policy that unemployed Namibians first submit, among others, a certified copy of their voter’s registration card to be considered for employment in a government entity?

I urge you, honourable minister Sankwasa, to publicly respond to this fundamental basic question at your earliest convenience for the sake of our unemployed Namibians who do not possess a voter’s registration card relative to employment opportunities in their local government entities.

Please note that silence is golden or ignorance is bliss, as failure to publicly respond to this very basic fundamental question then affirms that the government is indeed, in broad daylight, violating the supreme law of the land by discriminating against its own unemployed citizens. That only those who have a voter’s registration card may apply for town council advertised jobs, and should that be the case, the government should rather amend the Constitution to reflect this new reality.

And that if it is not government policy to request unemployed Namibians to submit copies of their voter registration cards, direct the Outapi Town Council to immediately re-advertise those vacancies to be in line with our national Constitution as all Namibians should be equal before the law and should not be discriminated against based on their political affiliations, political interests or lack thereof whatsoever.  

*Pendapala Hangala believes in the potential of Namibians to achieve great things for themselves if given the chance. He writes in his capacity.