Bumper election year strains resources

THIS year’s presidential, national, regional and local polls will cost the State N$47,3 million.

“The ECN is preparing to pull out all the stops as this year marks the election of a new president and voter education and information needs to be disseminated to every eligible voter,” said Deputy Speaker Willem Konjore, when he motivated the budget of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in the National Assembly on Thursday. Some 5 000 election officials will be involved in this year’s elections at a cost of N$22 million.Konjore said 2004 would be a “highly taxing” year for the ECN in respect of human, financial and other resources.The ECN has been allocated N$54 million from the 2004-05 budget.The first of the four major elections – the local authority polls – takes place on May 14.They will be followed by Presidential and National Assembly elections on November 15 and 16 and Regional Council elections two weeks later:on November 29 and 30.Last year about 2 000 school-leavers and unemployed youth were recruited to serve as registration, polling and counting officials, but the ECN said it would also require the services of civil servants because of their relevant electoral experience.Voter education and public awareness campaigns, Konjore said, would be ongoing for most of the year with the aim of especially reaching the rural population, youth, women and people with disabilities.The ECN said it was still experiencing problems in attracting and retaining suitably qualified personnel for its Voter Education and Planning and Research Department because of the poor salaries offered.Voter education, the printing of ballot papers and the rental of buildings and furniture for this year’s elections will cost N$10 million, a N$5 million increase compared to the last financial year.This is to cater for the four elections with the printing of ballot papers taking the largest chunk of the budget.But the ECN will have to do with reduced funding for transport, which it says is a serious concern.The Government Garage, it said, was unable to respond to its needs because of a lack of vehicles.An amount of N$6,8 million has been allocated for transport – N$ 1,5 million less that the previous financial year.This has been attributed to the shorter registration process:two weeks this time, compared to the two months previously allowed for this process.”The allocation for transport is envisaged to be grossly insufficient in the light of the planned activities of the ECN this year.The serious increase in transport expenditure will have an adverse effect on the ECN, not only on the day-to-day transport, but also when it comes to the carrying out of electoral activities,” said Konjore.Some 5 000 election officials will be involved in this year’s elections at a cost of N$22 million.Konjore said 2004 would be a “highly taxing” year for the ECN in respect of human, financial and other resources.The ECN has been allocated N$54 million from the 2004-05 budget.The first of the four major elections – the local authority polls – takes place on May 14.They will be followed by Presidential and National Assembly elections on November 15 and 16 and Regional Council elections two weeks later:on November 29 and 30.Last year about 2 000 school-leavers and unemployed youth were recruited to serve as registration, polling and counting officials, but the ECN said it would also require the services of civil servants because of their relevant electoral experience.Voter education and public awareness campaigns, Konjore said, would be ongoing for most of the year with the aim of especially reaching the rural population, youth, women and people with disabilities.The ECN said it was still experiencing problems in attracting and retaining suitably qualified personnel for its Voter Education and Planning and Research Department because of the poor salaries offered.Voter education, the printing of ballot papers and the rental of buildings and furniture for this year’s elections will cost N$10 million, a N$5 million increase compared to the last financial year.This is to cater for the four elections with the printing of ballot papers taking the largest chunk of the budget.But the ECN will have to do with reduced funding for transport, which it says is a serious concern.The Government Garage, it said, was unable to respond to its needs because of a lack of vehicles.An amount of N$6,8 million has been allocated for transport – N$ 1,5 million less that the previous financial year.This has been attributed to the shorter registration process:two weeks this time, compared to the two months previously allowed for this process.”The allocation for transport is envisaged to be grossly insufficient in the light of the planned activities of the ECN this year.The serious increase in transport expenditure will have an adverse effect on the ECN, not only on the day-to-day transport, but also when it comes to the carrying out of electoral activities,” said Konjore.