Excitement, frustration dominate polls
The most anticipated elections since the 1989 polls, which saw Namibia affirm its independence, drew thousands of Namibians to polling stations across the country, who braced themselves to endure long queues in the scorching sun to cast their votes.
These elections represent the first time that over 90% (approximately 1 449 569) of eligible voters have been registered to vote.
Political leaders were the first in line when polls opened at 07:00, with most presidential candidates casting their votes in the hotly contested elections in the capital city.
Yesterday’s polls were marred by several mobile polling stations, including at Kapps Farm and Omeya, running out of ballot papers while hundreds of voters were still stranded in the queues.
Many Windhoek residents chose to drive to polling stations on the outskirts of the city in an effort to avoid the long lines.
At a snail's pace
One of the biggest headaches many voters faced yesterday was the slow pace at which the queues were moving. Voters subsequently accused the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) of failing to plan properly.
Independent Patriots for Change spokesperson, Imms Nashinge, lamented the long queues, saying the ECN failed to implement proposals from political parties on how to shorten the waiting times.
The tedious voting process meant that many voters, some of whom had arrived by 04:00, only managed to cast their ballots around midday.
Commenting on this, ECN spokesperson De Wet Siluka blamed the slow voting in Windhoek on urban voters flocking to rural areas to cast their votes.
“We have noticed that many people from outside Windhoek rural constituency have opted to go vote at polling stations in Windhoek rural constituency, putting pressure on the resources deployed. However, we want to assure everyone that this issue is receiving our utmost attention and we are going to serve everyone in the queue by 21:00,” he said yesterday.
#NamibiaDecides2024
These elections represent the first time that over 90% (approximately 1 449 569) of eligible voters have been registered to vote.
Political leaders were the first in line when polls opened at 07:00, with most presidential candidates casting their votes in the hotly contested elections in the capital city.
Yesterday’s polls were marred by several mobile polling stations, including at Kapps Farm and Omeya, running out of ballot papers while hundreds of voters were still stranded in the queues.
Many Windhoek residents chose to drive to polling stations on the outskirts of the city in an effort to avoid the long lines.
At a snail's pace
One of the biggest headaches many voters faced yesterday was the slow pace at which the queues were moving. Voters subsequently accused the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) of failing to plan properly.
Independent Patriots for Change spokesperson, Imms Nashinge, lamented the long queues, saying the ECN failed to implement proposals from political parties on how to shorten the waiting times.
The tedious voting process meant that many voters, some of whom had arrived by 04:00, only managed to cast their ballots around midday.
Commenting on this, ECN spokesperson De Wet Siluka blamed the slow voting in Windhoek on urban voters flocking to rural areas to cast their votes.
“We have noticed that many people from outside Windhoek rural constituency have opted to go vote at polling stations in Windhoek rural constituency, putting pressure on the resources deployed. However, we want to assure everyone that this issue is receiving our utmost attention and we are going to serve everyone in the queue by 21:00,” he said yesterday.
#NamibiaDecides2024
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