Record turnout in Omaheke Region

PETROS KUTEEUE in GOBABIS A RECORD voter turnout is expected in the Omaheke Region, where thousands of people flocked to the polling stations on Monday and yesterday to cast their ballots in the Presidential and National Assembly polls.

Although the number of voters at most polling stations had started to subside by late yesterday afternoon, there were still long queues at some stations. Election officials, international observers and political parties were all delighted by the high voter turnout, which they said augured well for Namibia’s electoral process that was usually marred by voter apathy.”The impressive thing, at all [polling] stations we passed, is that many, many people are turning up to vote,” said Tanzanian lawmaker Maria Watondoha, who is heading the SADC Parliamentary Forum’s observer team in Omaheke.”…and the entire process seems to be very peaceful.We have seen different political parties sitting together without any incident.”Equally impressed by the enthusiasm of the Omaheke voters in this year’s polls was the region’s Governor, Laura McLeod, who was the first candidate to vote at the Regional Council’s offices in Gobabis on Monday.”It’s good they are showing up in large numbers on the first day.It’s not advisable to leave it until the last day and then lose out…the early bird catches the fattest worm,” the Governor said.Some people said they were voting because they wanted to get the representatives of their choice in parliament, while others felt that they were simply exercising their democratic right.”Everyone wants to be represented by people of their own choice to protect their interests; you can only achieve that by taking part in the election,” said Martin Tjeriko as he looked at the long queue in front of him.But Frieda Burger of Gobabis felt that: “Political parties overwhelmed us with all sorts of promises, but at the end of the day there won’t be any significant change.I’m just voting because I don’t want to deny myself a Constitutional right.”Election officials, international observers and political parties were all delighted by the high voter turnout, which they said augured well for Namibia’s electoral process that was usually marred by voter apathy.”The impressive thing, at all [polling] stations we passed, is that many, many people are turning up to vote,” said Tanzanian lawmaker Maria Watondoha, who is heading the SADC Parliamentary Forum’s observer team in Omaheke.”…and the entire process seems to be very peaceful.We have seen different political parties sitting together without any incident.”Equally impressed by the enthusiasm of the Omaheke voters in this year’s polls was the region’s Governor, Laura McLeod, who was the first candidate to vote at the Regional Council’s offices in Gobabis on Monday.”It’s good they are showing up in large numbers on the first day.It’s not advisable to leave it until the last day and then lose out…the early bird catches the fattest worm,” the Governor said.Some people said they were voting because they wanted to get the representatives of their choice in parliament, while others felt that they were simply exercising their democratic right.”Everyone wants to be represented by people of their own choice to protect their interests; you can only achieve that by taking part in the election,” said Martin Tjeriko as he looked at the long queue in front of him.But Frieda Burger of Gobabis felt that: “Political parties overwhelmed us with all sorts of promises, but at the end of the day there won’t be any significant change.I’m just voting because I don’t want to deny myself a Constitutional right.”