ONGWEDIVA – The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) is ready to pull today’s by-election in the Guinas constituency of the Oshikoto region.

The readiness was revealed by De Wet Siluka, the Commission’s spokesperson, in an interview with this publication.

According to Siluka, all polling stations have been provided with the necessary equipment and sufficient personnel to ensure a seamless voting process.

The by-election was prompted by the death of former councillor Elias Barney Martinus (51) last year. Martinus had served as the councillor since 2020.

Guinas is a small constituency with 4 337 eligible registered voters.

There are 20 fixed polling stations.

Namibian Police Force Inspector General Joseph Shikongo stated that 18 police officers have been deployed to the Guinas constituency for the by-election, scheduled for today. They will be bolstered by patrolling teams to ensure safety, security, law and order.

Shikongo urged residents of the Guinas constituency to adhere to the laws and ensure a peaceful voting process.

“Police should ensure safety and order at all times at the polling stations the same way they did last year during the presidential and national assembly elections,” he added.

Meanwhile, two members of the same family – albeit from different political homes – are the only contestants.

They are Landless People’s Movement’s Fransiskus Khumub and his cousin, Swapo Party’s Moses Khumub.

Although the two are distant cousins, such a contest will be a first of its kind for the country at regional council election level.

Siluka confirmed to New Era that only the two political parties have submitted candidates to contest in the upcoming by-election.

It is the first time that LPM is contesting in this type of election in Guinas.

-!amalwa@nepc.com.na