President Nangolo Mbumba was among the first people to register to vote ahead of this year’s highly-anticipated Presidential and National Assembly elections yesterday.
He implored eligible voters to register en masse to exercise their democratic rights, and make their voices heard.
From across the nation’s length and breadth, it was clear that many braved the cold weather to participate in a democratic process a process for whom many paid the ultimate prize.
The registration period started yesterday, and ends on 1 August 2024.
“As an eligible citizen of Namibia, you should vote, and elect either an organisation, the party or individual of your choice to represent you in the management of your municipality, region and the whole of Namibia,” Mbumba said, fresh after obtaining his voter’s card.
He was accompanied by the First Lady, Sustjie Mbumba.
The Head of State was impressed with the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)’s efficiency and due diligence during the registration process.
ECN chairperson Elsie Nghikembua told New Era that they have noticed an undesirable trend .
“As a commission, we have noticed that Namibians do come in numbers when registering to vote, but their numbers don’t reflect the actual voting turnout. The voters’ cards must not be souvenirs. I appeal to Namibians who are registering across the country and the world to make sure they do turn up in numbers on 27 November,” she urged.
Okahandja
Some 70 km from where the first citizen registered to vote, the turnout at various voters’ registration points at Okahandja was a bit poor during the opening day.
At the town’s project school, members of the public only started trickling in small numbers from around 13h00 as there was not much activity in the early morning hours at all registration points.
Frustration amongst members of the public was vivid at Okahandja’s Eden Primary School, where the registration process was disrupted by technical glitches and briefly halted due to malfunctioning voters’ registration machines.
Pensioner Elsie Garises (68), who was among the first people to show up at the school to register, was disappointed with the slow pace of the registration process.
“I came here at 07h00 in the morning, and up until now, they have not helped me. It’s cold, and to be sitting here from morning until this time is not healthy at my age. They told us that the registration machine was giving them problems, and promised to go get a new one. But there has been no movement. It’s very discouraging,” she vented.
Self-employed mechanic Thomas Hindjou equally expressed his dismay with the slow registration process at the school, saying he sacrificed his morning with the hope that he would finish registration expeditiously before returning to work.
But it turned out otherwise.
“As I’m speaking to you, I was supposed to be attending to my clients. I decided to come here early so that I could finish and get my new voters’ card early, but the process at this school is just not working. They are talking about a broken machine, but these things should have been tested already before the process started. They had time to get their things in order. It’s very cold to be sitting here since morning,” added a frustrated Hindjou.
Attempts to obtain comment from the various team leaders at the registration points were unsuccessful, as they were instructed not to engage the media.
Keetmanshoop
About 500 km south of the capital city Windhoek lies the town of Keetmanshoop.
There, New Era’s team visited some registration points to gauge eligible voters’ views on the importance of registering and voting.
For 27-year-old Kaden Minnaar, it is her second time getting a voters’ card and participating in the electoral process, which culminates at the voting booth.
“I did so to be part of democratic electoral processes in the country. We, as the youth, want the government to create more employment and training opportunities,” she noted.
Meanwhile, Loutha Ui-Nuseb (66) wants his voice heard.
“Through my voice, we as elders can receive government assistance programmes like income-earning donations, drought relief and increased social grants,” he observed.
He appealed to other senior citizens to register to set an example for the younger generation.
When interviewed by this publication, ECN //Kharas regional electoral officer Jejamaije Mujoro said all registration points were on point, except for one or two which experienced minor technical problems.
“All logistics are now in place, and supervisors and I will visit points where registration officials are staying in tents to secure their security and the availability of sanitation facilities,” Mujoro said.
Thirty registration teams were dispatched to various points in the region with an estimated 72 500 eligible voters.
Katima Mulilo
Like Mbumba, Zambezi’s first resident governor Lawrence Sampofu also led from the front, and was among the first in the region to register.
He called on all residents in the region and elsewhere to go out in large numbers and register to vote.
“I have just registered. It is a constitutional right for all Namibians to vote. Because of our democratic system, every Namibian should be registered, and every Namibian has the right to vote. I am calling upon all residents of the Zambezi region who are staying here or elsewhere to register themselves. Today [yesterday] is the beginning of the registration process, which will go up to August this year. So, we appeal to all residents to register themselves,” Sampofu said.
He added: “Everyone must have a voter’s card to vote this year. We appeal to all residents to come and register. They should not stay away. There are many registration points, and we will continue to announce in all eight constituencies of the Zambezi region. These points are at various schools and any other offices identified.”
An electoral team leader at Katima Mulilo, Saili Maliti, was impressed by the huge turnout since they opened the registration point around 07h00 yesterday.
“So far, people are coming. The turnout is quite good. We did not encounter any hiccups. We are happy with the numbers, and more people are still coming to register,” he said while stationed at the University of Namibia campus.
Leonard Ambulawaye, who had just finished registering, was boastful, describing himself as a responsible citizen.
“I want to take part in the 2024 elections. We are responsible for choosing the leaders whom we want to govern us. If you vote, you have exercised your democratic right. All Namibians must go register and vote,” he appealed.
Walvis Bay
At Walvis Bay, ECN representative Aune Ndakeva said they experienced minor challenges in the morning.
Overall, the well-oiled ECN machinery was delivering maximum results.
The number of people registering for the first day was also quite impressive, she added.
“I don’t have the overall numbers yet, but what we have received so far is good. The process is going well, but will be smoother as we continue,” Ndakeva enthused.
Some residents in Walvis Bay also complained about the slow process, stating that they have been in the registering area since the morning.
Rural registration points experienced a low turn-up in the morning, but the process picked up during the day.
Anna Seibes, a pensioner who was in the queue yesterday at the Nakambale registration point, indicated that she wanted to register as early as possible to avoid the last-minute rush.
“I have been here for a while, but they gave us elders some chairs. I am happy that I will be able to register today, and get it out of the way,” she said.
Johny Doeseb, who registered at the Walvis Bay library in town, encouraged Namibians to come out in large numbers and register.
“It is important that we register to cast our votes in the upcoming elections,” he appealed.
Rundu
In Kavango East, governor Bonifatius Wakudumo was also first in line to register at Sikanduko primary school registration point on the outskirts of Rundu.
ECN regional electoral officer Paulus Sifire said the only challenge was the low turnout in Rundu.
“But in rural areas the turnout was good, but in Rundu the turnout only started going up in the afternoon, maybe they were not sure whether the registration was really going to start but after seeing others have registered then they began to follow suit,’’ he said.
Kavango East has a total of 33 teams and 374 registration points.
*This article was compiled by several New Era journalists spread across the country.