Loide Jason 

Cecilia Xavier

Residents of the Samora Machel constituency, who were registered and participated in the previous elections, were turned away during the voters’ registration for being “ineligible voters”. 

The former voters, who are primarily from Ovahimba and OvaZemba communities residing in the Goreangab area, claim that the requirements for the new registration process conflict with their existing voters’ history. 

While visiting registration points in Samora Machel, New Era found a group of disappointed former voters, who were allegedly turned away due to insufficient documentation by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) officials. 

The Bredan Simbwaye location, where many Ovahimba people reside, is significantly affected. 

Many residents there are ineligible to register.

Martin Amugongo, a team leader at the !!Goadadi registration point, said one of the challenges faced by the registration officials is community members who want to register when they do not meet the requirements.

ECN requirements for registration dictate that prospective voters provide Namibian identification documents, as well as proof of residence. 

A registered voter should also be 18 years of age. 

However, cases like that of Nguleka Kavevilatji, who registered and voted in 2014 and 2019 without these documents, raise concerns. 

She is a registered voter in Opuwo Urban in the Kunene region. She said: “I did not have an identification card previously, and also do not have a birth certificate. I was represented by two relatives who had the identification card. It was never an issue, and I do not know why it is an issue now”. 

She emphasised that it is important for her to vote, and questioned why her previous registration history was not being considered.

Andelina Kalenga, also a 2019 voter, was registered with the help of her mother, who represented her during the registration process. 

She now faces a new challenge that was affected by ECN’s latest requirements. 

She was born in Windhoek but raised in Opuwo. 

She does not have an ID or a birth certificate. 

She said a cumbersome process to obtain an ID from the ministry of home affairs has prevented her from registering. 

“I was born in Windhoek. My mother took me to Opuwo for years. She did not get identification documents for me. The process is now cumbersome and tiring,” she explained. 

Kalenga’s hope to vote for her preferred candidate and party this year is unlikely, as registration ends tomorrow.

Matteus Mwimbowe, who lost his voter card after relocating to Samora Machel, also shared his predicament. 

“I voted in two different elections but I have lost my cards. I went to the registration point, and I was turned away,” he said.

Constituency councillor Nestor Kalola expressed his concern over the high number of ineligible OvaZemba and OvaHimba residents, who are being turned away due to a lack of national documents. 

He advocated for extended registration days to address the issue.

 “This is worrisome and concerning. This location has a high number of these Ovadhemba and Ovahimba people, and I am informed by the officials on the ground that the majority did not register due to lack of documents,” he said.

He further pointed out that ECN needs to extend the registration days to resolve the challenges.

“Imagine some of these people are many in the house. You can find eight people in one shack, most of whom are of the voting age and who previously voted but this year they do not qualify. It is a very big concern,” he lamented.

Progress

Registration officials at the locations visited by New Era indicated that many people are now showing up at the last minute. 

At Okankudi kaNauyoma, the process started on 1st July, with 180 people recorded in a day during the first week.

According to the officials, who refused to be named, as they are not authorised to speak to the media, voters were enthusiastic at the beginning but stopped showing up mid-month.

“From the 15th of this month, there were no queues here. But now, as you can see for yourself. There is a queue,” said one of the officials.

New Era found around 10 people, mostly youth, in the queue, waiting to register for their voter’s cards. 

However, at the !!Goadadi registration point, there was no one, although the point had recorded around 11 people from the morning until 13h30 when the paper visited the centre.

Voter registration progress varies across points. 

Okankudi kaNauyoma initially experienced a high number but has since slowed down. 

!!Goadadi had minimal activity. 

Approached for comment, ECN spokespersonMulauli De Wet Siluka said that they are not doing data migration of previous records. 

Hence, it is a new process of registration.

“This is a new process of registration. We are not going to use history to register people. We are only registering people who meet the requirements of having a birth certificate, being represented by two people or having identification documents,” he asserted.

He added that people should hurry to sort out their challenges so that they can register within these last hours. Otherwise, there will be no second chance.

“The commission would like to once again reiterate that there will be no extension of the GRV beyond 1 August 2024. Neither will the commission conduct the supplementary voters’ registration (SRV) in 2024. Therefore, we strongly urge eligible Namibians who have not yet registered to do so within the remaining hours,” he said.

Home Affairs recently stated that since the commencement of the national mass registration process in March 2024, the ministry has registered 2 607 stateless or undocumented persons.

The recent figure from the ministry indicates the Zambezi region leads the pack with 589.

Royal encouragement

As the general voters’ registration curtain falls, gaob Justus Garoeb of the Damara people encouraged citizens, especially the youth, to register to vote, and hoped everyone eligible to vote would be ready during elections.

“I hope that all the people will be ready for the forthcoming elections. Don’t wait for the very last day to register. You might be late,” he said.  

Highlighting the importance of having a voter’s card, he stated that it is a token of citizenship that every citizen of age ought to have to exercise their democratic rights.

“Stand up, and get your voter’s card. It is very important,” he urged.

Kaptein designate Charles Otto !Uirab of the Swartbooi Traditional Authority shared the same sentiments as Garoeb, urging the youth to turn up in numbers at the registration points. 

He said they are the future leaders – and as such, they should have a say in their future by registering to vote.

“You vote and hold those elected officials accountable for providing and delivering services. It is important to register and vote so you have a say in your tomorrow and your future development. Therefore, I urge young people to register to vote,” he said. 

He added that they had ECN officials for three days in Fransfontein for registration, who now moved to Khorixas. 

However, this should not deter eligible citizens from registering, but they must do so whenever they travel to Khorixas before the due date.

“You will feel guilty as a citizen if you do not register as a voter because you take your own right away,” he noted.

The Kakurukouje Traditional Authority’s senior councillor, Karungojo Muhenje, noted that if citizens do not register to vote, they will not have a say or hold those voted accountable. 

“Only when you register to vote and vote can you claim to have a say in the leadership, knowing that you have registered and you have voted. When you have not registered, you will be just like a blind person,” he stated.

*Cecilia Xavier works for the MICT Kunene.