Disillusionment dampens regional, local election turnout

Polling for the 2025 regional council and local authority elections began at a slow pace yesterday across the country, with many stations remaining largely empty throughout the day. Meanwhile, in Kavango East, residents of Thipanana refused to vote, citing what they described as unmet service delivery promises.

Electoral authorities had hoped that increased voter registration and awareness campaigns would help surpass the 2020 turnout of 38.3% for regional councils and 43.2% for local authorities.

This is a stark contrast to the 1992 high water mark of over 80%, the first time such elections were held in the country.

According to feedback from citizens and local media, many voters arrived at stations to find only a few others queuing, while reports indicated that by mid-morning turnout still appeared modest.

In some constituencies, early numbers were described as “slow but steady”, raising concerns whether turnout would reach a meaningful threshold by day’s end.

In Kavango East, Divundu was one of the few bright spots, recording a relatively strong early turnout. But outside the settlement, polling stations in Mukwe, Ndiyona and Ndonga Linena constituencies were markedly quiet. Electoral officials in these areas reported seeing as few as five to ten voters at most stations by late morning.

One polling station in Ndonga Linena performed noticeably better, drawing between 40 and 50 voters, according to its presiding officer – a rare exception in a region where participation was markedly low by yesterday afternoon.



Need to do better

Still, those who voted praised the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s teams across the country, particularly in light of the difficulties experienced during last year’s general elections.

With official figures still pending, early signs suggest the likely low turnout may reflect more than logistics or the heat. Voters’ disillusionment with local governance and doubts or lack of awareness about the impact of regional and local elections may also be a factor, experts and voters said yesterday.

Political researcher Christie Keulder of Cirrus Survey Warehouse noted that voter participation in Namibia’s sub-national elections has plummeted, from over 80% in 1992 to just 43% for local authorities and 37% for regional councils in 2020.

“The sharp decline in both urban and rural areas signals growing disengagement, undermining accountability and threatening democratic responsiveness," he warned.

"Low turnout is also straining relationships between voters and parties, reducing trust and shrinking the mandate to govern at the local level."

Keulder stressed that political parties are primarily responsible for motivating citizens to vote.

"There are many factors that motivate people to vote, but perhaps the most important is the impact of repeated disappointment," he said.

"When people vote and see no change, it actively discourages them from participating in future elections. Political parties can address this not just through mobilisation but also by recognising that widespread discontent signals a need to perform better."

In other words, he added, “if you want to fix it, do better.”

Another commentator said the lacklustre participation may be the result of a mix of lingering frustrations and political fatigue.

“Probably a combination of things,” he observed. “People are feeling quite jaded after the hassles in the queue last year, and there’s also some dissatisfaction in the alternatives as well as the main party. I don’t think the opposition guys are really showering themselves in glory either.”



Withholding their vote

In a dramatic development, some residents of Thipanana in the Mukwe constituency refused to cast their ballots altogether. The Thipanana Junior Primary School polling station had recorded fewer than ten voters by midday as dozens of residents gathered outside the school, vowing not to cast their ballot.

Residents complained of broken service-delivery promises, particularly the prolonged failure to install electricity in their village despite repeated letters to the authorities. Some said they would not vote until leaders honoured commitments made in previous election cycles. Swapo’s Damian Maghambayi has served as Mukwe councillor during the past five years.

In Kavango West, reports from Nkurenkuru, Mpungu, Ncamagoro and Tondoro indicated a slow start to voting, with polling stations largely quiet throughout the morning and early afternoon. By yesterday afternoon, no queues at any of the stations visited exceeded 10 people.



More officers than voters

A similarly subdued turnout was observed in the capital.

Polling stations in Windhoek East and Windhoek West experienced thin morning traffic, drawing public criticism from political leaders. Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi expressed disappointment at the low early turnout.

A tour of the northern regions similarly highlighted severe voter apathy. Namibian Sun journalist Kenya Kambowe reported extremely low turnout across Oshikoto, Oshana and Ohangwena.

“At Onankali Combined School, there were about 60 voters before 07:00," Kambowe reported.

"In Omuthiya at the ELCIN church, the figure was less than 20 in the queue. At Onyaanya, there were only three people when I visited. At Heroes Private School, it was about four. At Omashaka in Ondangwa Urban, there was no single voter on site. At Oshikango Combined School, it was just one by one,” he said.

Kambowe added that at many stations, party agents outnumbered actual voters – a telling sign of voter disinterest. Weather conditions, including heat and the possibility of afternoon thunderstorms, may also have been a contributing factor, with some residents saying they planned to vote later in the day.



Fluctuating arrivals

Voter turnout across the Omusati region fluctuated throughout the day, with different constituencies experiencing contrasting levels of participation as Namibians cast their ballots.

In Outapi, early-morning queues suggested a strong start, with many elderly residents arriving before sunrise to secure their place in line. Election officials described the atmosphere as orderly and energetic.

By contrast, momentum faltered in Tsandi, where turnout was significantly lower. By late morning, only a handful of voters were arriving at a time, and some polling stations appeared almost deserted.

Youthful enthusiasm

The pattern shifted again in Onesi, where a noticeable surge of younger voters was recorded by mid-afternoon. Polling officials welcomed the increase, describing it as a positive sign of youth engagement in the electoral process.

In Okahao, however, enthusiasm tapered off once more. By the time Namibian Sun arrived at midday, queues had all but disappeared. Presiding officers expressed concern and urged residents to vote early rather than waiting until the final hours.

Voter turnout in parts of the Hardap region was also disappointing, with some residents blaming the intense heat. Groot Aub, Rehoboth, Kalkrand and Hoachanas saw only a trickle of voters, according to reporters on the ground.



-- Story by Elizabeth Kheibes, Kenya Kambowe, Tuyeimo Haidula, Nikanor Nangolo, Phillipus Josef and Eliot Ipinge.