Elections 2009: Voices from Mariental

POLITICAL parties have started criss-crossing the country as they campaign to get votes that will keep their leadership in the National Assembly for the next five years starting from March next year.

While campaigning, the parties make promises to the electorate on, among others, better housing, more jobs, better health care and increased access to water and sanitation. The communication, however, is mostly one-way traffic as politicians hardly make time to get down to the level of the man on the street. While at Mariental this past weekend, The Namibian’s CHRISTOF MALETSKY and LUQMAN CLOETE gave members of the community a chance to say why they will or will not vote on November 27 and 28.Herman MulitzeYes. I’ll definitely cast my vote because it’s very important to vote for changes. It does not matter what political party is ruling but development will still lack in some areas such basic services, health, education and potable water. Surely, I think by casting a vote and to allow the party of my choice to govern, improvement is possible.It’s one’s democratic right to vote.Hermanus AfrikanerI’ll not vote. My vote will not help because Mariental is overlooked when it comes to development. This has been proven in the past, because complaints of unemployment and unfair labour practices to Government Offices have fallen on deaf ears. Currently some people working on plots still earn meagre wages of N$ 420, but the Government is reluctant, or should I say afraid, to redress these kinds of unfair labour practices.Yanka AgenbachYes, I’ll cast my vote. Through my vote it’s my responsibility to protect my country, because I’ll decide who will be the right people to govern our country in the right direction such as improvements in health and education sectors.Thomas HaidulaChanges and the betterment of the people’s welfare is needed, therefore I’ll vote. With my vote I would like to see improvement in health, SME development and the housing sectors.Prof MathiasBefore Independence we had been denied the right to vote. Therefore, I look forward to cast my vote. I will exercise my democratic right through casting my vote. I hope my vote will bring improvements in the health sector as well job creation.Nick JossopI want to see changes, therefore I’ll vote. Unemployment is the biggest problem in the country, and I would like to see that the political party I am going to vote into power will strive towards self-employment for people through securing loans for those without jobs to start their own businesses. This will definitely ease unemployment in the country.Petrus Jordan PietersenVoting is of utmost importance. By voting you are selecting the party of your choice who you believe will develop the country. I would like to emphasize that elections are important, because through elections we liberated the country. Against this background, I am calling the ‘bornfrees’ to go and vote for the party of their choice. I’ll definitely vote for the Swapo Party. By revealing this, I do not intimidate anybody.Jesaja LebeI still have to make up my mind whether I’ll or not partake in the upcoming presidential and national elections. I still need to study each and every political party’s manifesto. Therefore I need time to make up my mind. Yes it’s my democratic right to vote, but before I’m going to vote I must make sure that the political party where I’ll cast my cross is going to create jobs. Additionally, I must also benefit from the jobs created by the political party. I was active in the struggle that led to the country’s liberation, but I’m still unemployed.Katrina MeyerI will vote. I first thought I should stop voting but then someone else will vote and decide for me and that’s not what I want. Since my husband died I have been taking care of my grandchildren alone and have come to appreciate taking decisions and keeping to them. My pension is only enough to pay the house, water, electricity and for the lawyers after I was handed over to them for the water account. I am selling meat here in the sun every day to make a few cents to buy food and other needs. I want the pension increased and have decided the best way to hold politicians accountable is by voting.Jakob AfrikanerI have been waiting for this opportunity for a long long time. I know that the Government may not worry about my opinion but I have voted in every election since Independence and have asked for certain things but my desires have not been met in many instances. I will be 80 next month but struggle to make ends meet with the meagre pension I get. Life is very expensive and we old people spend most of our money on housing, water and electricity. I definitely want to see change in our pension for my vote.Johny SamuelsI’ll exercise my democratic right to vote for free education and job opportunities during the upcoming national and presidential elections.Ilse BurgerOne must vote. I’m going to vote to ensure that peace and stability prevails in our country. At present crime is escalating. The law and order in our country is getting out of hand. Our country is going the same route as South Africa, where there is chaos. Therefore with my vote I would like to see the reintroduction of the death penalty to bring back law and order in our country.