By Michael Liswaniso
OPUWO
The Director of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Phillemon Kanime, paid a visit to the offices of the Kunene Regional Council last Wednesday at the invitation of the regional constituency councillors.
The councillors needed to find out about newly procured voters’ machines and voice their problems regarding electoral education, elections and the supplementary and general voters’ registration, among others.
Even though some councillors did not make it to the meeting, including Regional Governor Dudu Murorua, Epupa Constituency Councillor, Mburura Kasita chaired the meeting without them.
“We need a possible direction so that during and after elections, we will all be happy and smile,” said Kasita.
Other councillors present were Lydia Kavetu of Opuwo and Hendriks Gaobaeb of Sesfontein.
The councillors cited shortage of electoral officers in the region as a barrier to most outreach programmes, and a lack of reliable media tools such as a community radio as another problem.
This hampers the “smooth” operations of the entire electoral process in the region that is vast but not densely populated.
Councillors also wanted to know from the ECN boss what to do about regional migration in search of better grazing opportunities in other parts of the region, especially during the prevailing drought when some residents are said to have flocked to Omusati.
To this end, Kanime replied that is the reason why his organization conducts continuous voter registration that caters for issues of similar kind.
He said through this, citizens turning 18 years are registered including those who lost their voters’ cards and those that had migrated.
He also advised that a councillor who knows where his/her constituency subjects had migrated to, could contact the respective fellow councillor.
“There should be consultations with the respective councillor and then we will definitely capture these people for this purpose. This should not and will not be a political issue but we must only stick to our duties and erase a problem,” said Kanime.
On the newly procured voters’ machine, Kanime said the machine would only be used once the highest office in the country has been officially informed of the development.
He added that presently the machine would not be used until thorough education on its usage is finalized.
Namibia is expected to conduct presidential and national council polls in two years’ time.