ECN denies poll registration graft

THE Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has dismissed claims of irregularities at election registration points in Windhoek.

The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) said a man, believed to be from the Swapo Party, referred more than a dozen people to be registered without the necessary documents at the Nataniel Maxuilili Community Hall and the Centre for the Disabled. Phil ya Nangoloh questioned the explanation given that the man was a “co-ordinator”.”What co-ordinator? This one person referred people to register, claiming he knows them and they were registered without documents,” Ya Nangoloh said.He said the NSHR had brought the incident to the attention of the ECN and tried to obtain the names of the people registered as well as the man who identified them.The ECN refused to divulge the details.Deputy Director of Elections Ananias Elago dismissed Ya Nangoloh’s allegations.”There is no such thing, it’s a lie.We don’t do that, we don’t allow that,” he said.Meanwhile, despite the low voter registration turnout across the country, Elago described the process as satisfactory.”With this being the supplementary registration, we are satisfied,” he said.Elago said that preparations for the November elections were well on track.Phil ya Nangoloh questioned the explanation given that the man was a “co-ordinator”.”What co-ordinator? This one person referred people to register, claiming he knows them and they were registered without documents,” Ya Nangoloh said.He said the NSHR had brought the incident to the attention of the ECN and tried to obtain the names of the people registered as well as the man who identified them.The ECN refused to divulge the details. Deputy Director of Elections Ananias Elago dismissed Ya Nangoloh’s allegations.”There is no such thing, it’s a lie.We don’t do that, we don’t allow that,” he said.Meanwhile, despite the low voter registration turnout across the country, Elago described the process as satisfactory.”With this being the supplementary registration, we are satisfied,” he said.Elago said that preparations for the November elections were well on track.