CoD pushes for immediacy in counting election votes

REPRESENTATIVES of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) have appealed to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to allow presiding officers at the coming elections to start counting as soon as the voting process is completed.

The party lodged its request at the political party liaison committee meeting at the Elections House in Windhoek yesterday. Secretary of the CoD Young Democrats, Natji Tjirera, said that in an effort to further promote transparency, the ECN should consider amending the Electoral Act to proceed with the counting process after all registered members have voted in constituencies.The Act states that votes should be counted the day after voting has taken place.”There is nothing as important as elections in this country,” Tjirera said.CoD Member of Parliament Rosa Namises supported Tjirera’s request.Director of Elections Philemon Kanime said the ECN strives to be perfect in executing its duties.”We try to be transparent – we do not have any business cheating anyone.We want to improve from here and amendments can be made if necessary, but I don’t think there is any time left before the elections to change any laws,” he said.Several other minor concerns raised by party representatives were postponed to a later meeting at a yet unspecified date.Chief Kuaima Riruako, Nudo President, and Usiel Tjijenda, also of Nudo, specifically referred to the situation in Tsumkwe and Western Caprivi, where the local San communities still struggle with identification documents.”At Tsumkwe, the people don’t have documents, they don’t know what’s needed and some of their documents are found not to be valid.This must be solved now before the end of the supplementary registrations,” Tjijenda said.Chief Riruako said that some of the San who came from Botswana in 1994 still haven’t received their permanent residence permits.Kanime said these issues had already been taken up with the Ministry of Home Affairs.Officials from the Ministry and party representatives are expected to address these particular concerns at a meeting this morning.The political party liaison committee meeting was held to update political parties on the preparations for the forthcoming Presidential/National Assembly and Regional Council elections, scheduled for November.Secretary of the CoD Young Democrats, Natji Tjirera, said that in an effort to further promote transparency, the ECN should consider amending the Electoral Act to proceed with the counting process after all registered members have voted in constituencies.The Act states that votes should be counted the day after voting has taken place.”There is nothing as important as elections in this country,” Tjirera said.CoD Member of Parliament Rosa Namises supported Tjirera’s request.Director of Elections Philemon Kanime said the ECN strives to be perfect in executing its duties.”We try to be transparent – we do not have any business cheating anyone.We want to improve from here and amendments can be made if necessary, but I don’t think there is any time left before the elections to change any laws,” he said.Several other minor concerns raised by party representatives were postponed to a later meeting at a yet unspecified date.Chief Kuaima Riruako, Nudo President, and Usiel Tjijenda, also of Nudo, specifically referred to the situation in Tsumkwe and Western Caprivi, where the local San communities still struggle with identification documents.”At Tsumkwe, the people don’t have documents, they don’t know what’s needed and some of their documents are found not to be valid.This must be solved now before the end of the supplementary registrations,” Tjijenda said.Chief Riruako said that some of the San who came from Botswana in 1994 still haven’t received their permanent residence permits.Kanime said these issues had already been taken up with the Ministry of Home Affairs.Officials from the Ministry and party representatives are expected to address these particular concerns at a meeting this morning.The political party liaison committee meeting was held to update political parties on the preparations for the forthcoming Presidential/National Assembly and Regional Council elections, scheduled for November.