Omuthiya poll off

THE local authority election which was to be held at Omuthiya today was called of at the last minute yesterday afternoon.

It has been postponed until further notice because two of the four contesting political parties raised objections to 54 names on the voters’ roll. The roll has been available for inspection at the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court since February 12.The run-up to the Omuthiya election has been marred by allegations and incidents of violence, heated rhetoric, claims of fraud related to the appointment of election officials and threats.Although there are only 1 587 voters at Omuthiya, Swapo does not want the newly formed RDP to gain political traction in their first electoral showdown.”The opposition party Rally for Democracy and Progress raised 42 objections [to names] at the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court and the Swapo Party had 12 objections,” ECN Director Phillemon Kanime told The Namibian yesterday afternoon.”Swapo only raised its objections on February 26, which is quite late, and RDP objected to names on the list of voters around February 17,” Kanime added.He denied allegations that the voters’ roll had been made available for scrutiny only a few days ago.”The Electoral Act requires that the Magistrate must – after receiving objections with regard to some of the names of persons on the voters’ roll – hear presentations of those persons within 15 days against whom objections were raised,” Kanime said.In this case, 54 people would have to provide proof that they are residents of Omuthiya and registered as voters within the stipulated time frame.”Once the presentations have been made, the Magistrate will make a determination on the objections and remove the person(s) from the voters’ roll or to dismiss the objections,” the ECN Director added.Only after the Magistrate has made a ruling in all of the cases will the ECN be in a position to proceed with the election.In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, the ECN said it was aware of the inconvenience caused by the postponement.”The ECN understands the importance of safeguarding the democratic process and the rule of law but it must comply with the procedures laid down in the Electoral Act,” it said.Approached for comment on the view of the Swapo Party, Oshikoto Regional Governor Penda ya Ndakolo said he was not disappointed about the postponement.”The fact that the objections to several names on the voters’ roll caused the postponement displays the people’s power – that is democracy,” Ya Ndakolo told The Namibian in his office at Omuthiya yesterday afternoon.”Had the elections taken place Friday [today], would they have been free and fair? Let us wait for the Magistrate to make a ruling and take it from there,” the Governor said.DTA Vice President Filemon Moongo was surprised to hear about the postponement, as he had not yet been informed of the latest developments.”This is unfair to the other contesting political parties and a waste of money.It will cost the ECN and the parties now more money to attempt the elections at a later date, and have our people there,” he said.He also claimed that DTA members in the area had experienced intimidation, but he would not disclose details.”If I give details now, our people will be targeted,” he said.Several attempts to obtain comments from the other two contesting parties, the RDP and CoD, yesterday afternoon were fruitless.The roll has been available for inspection at the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court since February 12.The run-up to the Omuthiya election has been marred by allegations and incidents of violence, heated rhetoric, claims of fraud related to the appointment of election officials and threats.Although there are only 1 587 voters at Omuthiya, Swapo does not want the newly formed RDP to gain political traction in their first electoral showdown.”The opposition party Rally for Democracy and Progress raised 42 objections [to names] at the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court and the Swapo Party had 12 objections,” ECN Director Phillemon Kanime told The Namibian yesterday afternoon.”Swapo only raised its objections on February 26, which is quite late, and RDP objected to names on the list of voters around February 17,” Kanime added.He denied allegations that the voters’ roll had been made available for scrutiny only a few days ago.”The Electoral Act requires that the Magistrate must – after receiving objections with regard to some of the names of persons on the voters’ roll – hear presentations of those persons within 15 days against whom objections were raised,” Kanime said.In this case, 54 people would have to provide proof that they are residents of Omuthiya and registered as voters within the stipulated time frame. “Once the presentations have been made, the Magistrate will make a determination on the objections and remove the person(s) from the voters’ roll or to dismiss the objections,” the ECN Director added.Only after the Magistrate has made a ruling in all of the cases will the ECN be in a position to proceed with the election.In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, the ECN said it was aware of the inconvenience caused by the postponement.”The ECN understands the importance of safeguarding the democratic process and the rule of law but it must comply with the procedures laid down in the Electoral Act,” it said.Approached for comment on the view of the Swapo Party, Oshikoto Regional Governor Penda ya Ndakolo said he was not disappointed about the postponement.”The fact that the objections to several names on the voters’ roll caused the postponement displays the people’s power – that is democracy,” Ya Ndakolo told The Namibian in his office at Omuthiya yesterday afternoon.”Had the elections taken place Friday [today], would they have been free and fair? Let us wait for the Magistrate to make a ruling and take it from there,” the Governor said.DTA Vice President Filemon Moongo was surprised to hear about the postponement, as he had not yet been informed of the latest developments.”This is unfair to the other contesting political parties and a waste of money.It will cost the ECN and the parties now more money to attempt the elections at a later date, and have our people there,” he said.He also claimed that DTA members in the area had experienced intimidation, but he would not disclose details.”If I give details now, our people will be targeted,” he said.Several attempts to obtain comments from the other two contesting parties, the RDP and CoD, yesterday afternoon were fruitless.