Africa-Press – Namibia. Growing anger over years of unaddressed sewage spills has pushed some residents of the Five Rand location in the Okahandja constituency to boycott the regional and local authority elections.
When New Era visited Five Rand yesterday, both polling stations were largely deserted. Instead of voting queues, dozens of residents were busy repairing their shacks, tending to household chores or walking past the voting centres without any intention of entering.
Out of more than ten people approached for comment, only one said they had voted. Most were openly dismissive of the process. “We are living in unbearable conditions,” said resident Helvy Nekwaya, adding that repeated calls to the Okahandja municipality to fix the sewarage have gone unanswered.
The residents pointed to stagnant pools of foul-smelling water running across streets, mixed with heaps of uncollected garbage. Children were seen playing in the contaminated water.
“Our kids are playing in that water, and it is not healthy. It is so sad that we have to take them to hospital again and again for something that is totally avoidable,” said Lovisa Hainghumbi, who has lived in the area for six years. Long-term Five Rand resident Filipus Immanuel, who lives on Golgota Street next to the cemetery, said he has endured the sewage overflow for a decade.
“I have been living next to heaps of garbage and dirty water from a broken sewer. We called the municipality several times, but they have not come. Why must I vote?” he said while pointing to the blackish water snaking through the street.
Meanwhile, voting inside the constituency proceeded with mixed activity.At the Police Station and Osona Plots mobile polling station, presiding officer Stefanus Onesmus confirmed that four inmates had voted.
He said the process started smoothly but was interrupted by technical glitches as some devices froze during the voting process. At the Woodcarvers polling station, presiding officer Usko Kandiwapa Alugodhi reported that turnout had slowed significantly by midday, though the morning had been busy. At ELCIN Sinagoge Church in Five Rand, presiding officer Selma Topulathana said the process was “smooth and fast”, and election officials were “ready to work”. New Era could not independently verify the residents claims of their concerns been unadressed, as the council period had lapsed until the new council is sworn in.
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