The Guinas constituency by-election is underway, with nine teams on duty at five fixed and four mobile polling stations.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia’s regional electoral officer for the Oshikoto region, Ester Hipangelwa, told Nampa voting started on time at 07h00 on Friday.
“The venues are packed. That shows that the communities are really interested in voting,” she said.
The by-election follows the death of former Guinas constituency councillor, Elias Kainda of Swapo, in October 2024.
The two candidates contesting the by-election are Swapo’s Moses Khumub and Fransiskus Khumub of the Landless People’s Movement.
Hipangelwa said some Tsumeb residents attempted to vote but were advised that voting is only open to eligible voters from the Guinas constituency.
She further said voting only takes two to three minutes as they are using two tablets to fast-track the process.
Traditional authority leader of the //Oai khoen (San) community at Tsintsabis, Geelbooi Tameb, says he was very happy to be able to cast his vote.
The 75-year-old Tameb says he arrived at the Tsintsabis Combined School polling station at 06h00.
“I voted because I want change for the people Guinas settlement,” he says.
He adds that some of the changes he is hoping for includes shops to cater for the local community.
“We have to go to Tsumeb to buy our groceries,” Tameb says.
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