Our votes bring no change - Mix residents
Mix settlement inhabitants say their votes will only add to the numbers needed to win elections, while they are being given no clean water, electricity, ablution facilities, clinics and schools,
In an interview with Nampa, resentful residents of Mix, which is situated 10 kilometres north of Windhoek, said their votes bring no change, as they have not seen any since the democratic government took over the land.
The government proclaimed the previously private-owned land as the Mix settlement six years ago, where hundreds of people live. One such resident, 24-year-old Jutha Johannes said prior to elections political parties come around with campaign tactics of promises and favours, however, since the last election they still do not have basic services.
“Our kids are on the streets because there is no school and with the odd jobs parents cannot afford transport money, which is N$500 per month,” Johannes said. Another resident, 40-year-old Lonia Tuluwali, concurred, saying Mix settlement is not forgotten during the run-up to elections, as registration points are set-up and are accessible to them, but the opposite applies when it comes to developing the area.
“People are in queues registering for voters' cards, as it is their right to vote, with a sense of hope that things will change, but in most cases, they do not,” an irate Tuluwali said. Namibia will hold its seventh presidential and National Assembly elections on 27 November.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has set-up a two-week-long supplementary voters' registration point for Mix settlement residents to receive new voter cards or reapply for them.
Speaking to Nampa on Friday, ECN Mix settlement registration point team leader Judge Musupi said over 400 inhabitants have registered, of which only 50 were young people and the rest were mostly 50 years old and older.
“Mostly the registered wanted duplicates of cards, due to lost cards, while 50 cards were newly issued to youth members,” Musupi said.
The registration period started on 8 July and ended on 20 July.
-Nampa
Linea Dishena and Shelleygan Petersen
In an interview with Nampa, resentful residents of Mix, which is situated 10 kilometres north of Windhoek, said their votes bring no change, as they have not seen any since the democratic government took over the land.
The government proclaimed the previously private-owned land as the Mix settlement six years ago, where hundreds of people live. One such resident, 24-year-old Jutha Johannes said prior to elections political parties come around with campaign tactics of promises and favours, however, since the last election they still do not have basic services.
“Our kids are on the streets because there is no school and with the odd jobs parents cannot afford transport money, which is N$500 per month,” Johannes said. Another resident, 40-year-old Lonia Tuluwali, concurred, saying Mix settlement is not forgotten during the run-up to elections, as registration points are set-up and are accessible to them, but the opposite applies when it comes to developing the area.
“People are in queues registering for voters' cards, as it is their right to vote, with a sense of hope that things will change, but in most cases, they do not,” an irate Tuluwali said. Namibia will hold its seventh presidential and National Assembly elections on 27 November.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has set-up a two-week-long supplementary voters' registration point for Mix settlement residents to receive new voter cards or reapply for them.
Speaking to Nampa on Friday, ECN Mix settlement registration point team leader Judge Musupi said over 400 inhabitants have registered, of which only 50 were young people and the rest were mostly 50 years old and older.
“Mostly the registered wanted duplicates of cards, due to lost cards, while 50 cards were newly issued to youth members,” Musupi said.
The registration period started on 8 July and ended on 20 July.
-Nampa
Linea Dishena and Shelleygan Petersen
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