It's all systems go for today's elections – ECN

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) yesterday confirmed that all electoral materials have been dispatched to, and received by, regions ahead of today’s elections.Commission spokesperson De Wet Siluka told Namibian Sun that the deployment process had been completed without incident.He added that the commission had received no reports of electoral violence and did not anticipate any disruptions when voting begins today.More than 1.4 million Namibians are expected to cast their ballots in the regional council and local authority elections.A total of 4 861 polling stations are ready to receive voters today, an increase of 181 compared with last year’s general elections.Of the 121 constituencies, 120 will be contested by political parties, organisations, associations and independent candidates. The exception is Mankumpi constituency, where Lukas Muha was declared the winner unopposed.Namibia Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi said more than 5 000 officers have been committed to the Electoral Commission for nationwide deployment.Smooth operationsNamibian Police Deputy Inspector General Elias Mutota told Namibian Sun that Monday’s special voting proceeded smoothly and that no problems are expected today.According to Mutota, no reports of violence have been received, except for an incident in //Kharas involving LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi and Vernon Coleman, which he said was unrelated to the elections.Mutota added that two officers will be stationed at every polling station.“Their duty is to safeguard election material and maintain law and order,” he said.He noted that all regional commanders have been instructed to ensure the elections proceed without incident.Shikwambi said the police are ready to execute their mandate to maintain law and order, prevent crime and protect lives and property, ensuring the elections are conducted in a democratic and constitutional manner.Final phaseIn Kavango West, ECN regional electoral officer Elizabeth Visage told Namibian Sun yesterday that the region was moving into its final phase of election readiness as deployment of teams and sensitive materials got underway.Visage confirmed that 150 election teams will be active across the region on voting day – 62 of them mobile units – while the remainder will operate from fixed polling points, mainly at schools."Mobile teams will move through villages and water points to ensure every eligible voter in Kavango West is reached," she said.In Kavango East, ECN regional officer Paulus Sifire said the special deployment began on Monday, with teams arriving on site and completing setup.Regarding the special vote, Sifire said they had not experienced any technical breaches.Sifire said they were deploying teams in the most remote stations in Mashare, Ndiyona, Ndonga-Linena, Mukwe, and Rundu Rural.“The region is set, prepared and business has started,” Sifire said.Kavango West regional IT officer Olavi Ngalangi said they were distributing tablets and ballot boxes to all seven constituencies, following the completion of non-sensitive materials at the regional depot on Monday.Polling stations in Okakarara had not been set up by yesterday afternoon, with the presiding officer, Lukas Nyumbu, saying he and the teams were on their way.Carrying the nationThe //Kharas region’s Oranjemund constituency ECN presiding officer at Zacharia Lewala Hall, David Mvula, said yesterday that preparations were progressing well.“We have received all the materials needed for these preparations, especially the non-sensitive materials. We are awaiting the sensitive materials to be delivered later today, but the teams are ready,” Mvula said.He added that staff members were mentally and physically prepared for today’s operations.“I would say we are the ones carrying the nation. We are called to carry out a critical task, so let’s deliver,” he said.A Nkurenkuru resident in the Kavango West Region, Roswitha Haita, said they are tired of being overlooked while people from other areas secure jobs in their town, despite locals doing the work and casting the votes.She added that many young people continue to struggle without permanent employment, proper safety gear or fair wages.Haita says those elected must bring real change by prioritising Nkurenkuru residents and ensuring they benefit from opportunities in their own community.

It's all systems go for today's elections – ECN

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-26

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It's all systems go for today's elections – ECN

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Namibian Sun 2025-11-26

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