‘Let fishermen vote’

MORE than 1 000 fishermen and diamond marine workers from Luderitz may not be able to vote in tomorrow’s Local Authority elections.

Luderitz Regional Councillor Fluksman Samuehl told The Namibian yesterday that while elections were a practical way of strengthening democracy, hundreds of fishermen might “lose out” if their employers did not recall them by this afternoon. According to Acting General Secretary of the Namibia Food and Allied Workers’ Union, Kiros Sackarias, they had reports from Walvis Bay that some fishing companies were preparing to send their workers to sea today.He warned that such companies would face “unbearable consequences”.”Nafau will certainly expose them and even lay criminal charges against those who contravene the law,” Sackarias told a hastily called media briefing in Windhoek yesterday.He said they had information that some lodge owners had allegedly vowed not to allow their workers to vote.Samuehl said all necessary, practical and appropriate arrangements should be made to ensure that no Namibian was denied their birthright of voting.He said around 3 000 fishermen and diamond marine workers had registered to vote in the Luderitz election but that more than 1 000 found themselves at sea.According to Acting General Secretary of the Namibia Food and Allied Workers’ Union, Kiros Sackarias, they had reports from Walvis Bay that some fishing companies were preparing to send their workers to sea today.He warned that such companies would face “unbearable consequences”.”Nafau will certainly expose them and even lay criminal charges against those who contravene the law,” Sackarias told a hastily called media briefing in Windhoek yesterday.He said they had information that some lodge owners had allegedly vowed not to allow their workers to vote.Samuehl said all necessary, practical and appropriate arrangements should be made to ensure that no Namibian was denied their birthright of voting.He said around 3 000 fishermen and diamond marine workers had registered to vote in the Luderitz election but that more than 1 000 found themselves at sea.