Steven Klukowski

KEETMANSHOOP – Following the expulsion of the Keetmanshoop Rural constituency councillor, Gerrit Witbooi, by the Landless People’s Movement, the Electoral Commission of Namibia got the ball rolling to fill the vacant seat within 90 days.  

In a media statement issued on Monday by ECN chief electoral and referenda officer Theo Mujoro, the entity said all preparations are now on course for the elections, slated for 15 May 2023. 

Duly nominated candidates who will compete for the position include Johannes Eiman (Popular Democratic Movement), Elias !Kharugab (Swapo), Willem Labuschagne (Landless People’s Movement), Magdalena Van Staden (Independent Patriots for Change) and Gerrit Witbooi, who will stand as an independent candidate.

The statement further reads that the final voters’ roll, indicating 6 675 voters as having been registered to cast their ballots during the said elections, will be available for viewing on 26 April 2023. 

ECN will also launch a voter’s education campaign educating residents on the importance of casting their votes from 1 to 14 May 2023. In addition, the verification of printed sample ballot papers by authorised political party representatives will take place on 25 April 2023. 

According to the presser, twelve teams, made up of 60 polling officials as well as political party agents and police officers, will be trained during the period 5-12 May 2023 with a one-day interruption on 7 May 2023. 

All teams will be deployed on 14 May 2023 to their respective polling stations in readiness for the elections the next day from 07h00-21h00, the press statement concludes.