Fishermen vote on Friday

FOR the first time in independent Namibia, fishermen and other seagoing staff, who might miss the national and presidential elections at the end of the month because they are out at sea, may vote separately this Friday, November 13.

‘They will be able to vote at selected polling stations in Walvis Bay and at Lüderitz this Friday from 07h00 to 21h00. ‘The polling date is by law strictly set aside for fishermen and seagoing personnel only,’ Dr Rukee Tjingaete of the Electoral Commission (ECN) said yesterday afternoon.This will include crews on fishing trawlers and fisheries observers and inspectors who will be at sea on November 27 and 28.’Any Namibian voter who does not qualify under this legal provision but is found guilty of violating this law (by voting) will be prosecuted.’According to the ECN, the ballot papers and all other materials have been dispatched to Walvis Bay and Lüderitz.Officials who will supervise the voting have been receiving training since Monday. Polling stations have been set up at the Kuisebmond Community Hall and Kuisebmond Compound Hall in Walvis Bay and at the former German school hostel hall in Lüderitz.