Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) is encouraging Keetmanshoop residents to go out in numbers to vote in the town’s upcoming by-elections, scheduled to take place next week Monday, 15 May.
The anticipated election comes after a vacancy opened in the //Kharas Regional Council following the expulsion of the former councillor, Gerrit Witbooi. According to Section 10(3) of the Regional Councils Act, the vacant position needs to be filled within a period of 90 days.
ECN’s Chief Electoral Referenda Officer, Theo Mujoro, confirmed that the nominations for candidates have already been completed. The nominees include Johannes Frederick Jacobus Eiman of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), Elias Kharuxas of the SWAPO Party, Willem Petrus Labuschagne of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Magdalena van Staden of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and Gerrit Albertus Witbooi, who is running as an independent candidate.
Mujoro revealed that the recruitment of polling officials has also been completed. He said that ECN recruited a total of 60 polling officials, who have been divided into 12 teams. Six of the 12 teams will conduct polling activities at fixed polling stations, while the other teams will work at mobile polling stations.
The fixed polling station venues, Mujoro said, include Aroab’s Community Hall, Aroab’s ELCIN Church, Koës’ Community Hall, Koës’ Community Centre, Keetmanshoop’s Teachers Resource Centre as well as the Rehabilitation Centre at Krönlein in Keetmanshoop.
There will also be several mobile polling stations. These, Mujoro revealed, will be stationed at the Seeheim Staff Quarters, Nautedam, Rooiwal, Karasberge Farmers Union Hall, Warmfontein, Klein Menasse Border Post, Aroab Police Cells, Kleinkaras, Koppieslaagte, Florida, Wittenhorst, Shirley, Kubis Noord, Darmstatt, Matamata Border Post, Koës Police Cells, Volstruispan and the Tinkerbell Day-care Centre.
The Keetmanshoop Hospital will also serve as a mobile polling station; however, this will only be used by hospital staff and patients.
Mujoro confirmed that Rosalin Keramen will be the Returning Officer for the Keetmanshoop Rural Constituency Regional Council By-election. She can be contacted at 081 6304 779 for any queries related to the polling activities for the Keetmanshoop Constituency by-election.
“The commission encourages all voters to go out in numbers to exercise their democratic right and vote on the 15th of May 2023 from 07:00 to 21:00. Go vote, your vote counts,” Mujoro added.
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