Kamanjab: The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has deployed teams in preparation for the upcoming by-elections in the Kamanjab and Sesfontein Constituencies in the Kunene Region, set to take place on Tuesday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Mike Nganjone, the Elections Officer for the Kunene Region, confirmed that a total of 44 teams have been deployed to their assigned polling stations without any issues, as all teams are prepared and equipped for the by-elections. Nganjone stated that the region has procured all necessary items and secured both sensitive and non-sensitive materials required for the electoral process.
A total of 135 officials have undergone training for the by-elections, with 26 teams positioned in the Sesfontein Constituency and 18 in the Kamanjab Constituency. Voting will occur from 07h00 until 21h00 on Tuesday. In terms of infrastructure, Kamanjab will have five fixed polling stations and 50 mobile polling stations, while Sesfontein will feature 12 fixed polling stations and 58 mobile ones.
Nganjone further informed Nampa that three candidates are officially registered to compete in the Kamanjab Constituency by-elections. Meanwhile, four candidates will be contesting in the Sesfontein Constituency. The candidates for Kamanjab include Dansiekie Ganaseb of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), Nikodemus Amutenya of the Swapo Party, and Jacobus Buruxa Namaseb of the United Democratic Front (UDF). In Sesfontein, the candidates are Titus Uaundjua Rungondo for the Swapo Party, Bennie Ganaseb for IPC, Bernadus Uitani Hoeb for UDF, and Joshua Vemuii Kaisuma representing the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM).
Nganjone mentioned that there have been no applications from independent candidates in either constituency. The by-elections were prompted by the appointments of UDF councillors Nico Somaeb (Kamanjab) and Hedrick Gaobaeb (Sesfontein) to the National Assembly earlier this year in March.
Commissioner James Nderura, NamPol's Kunene Regional Commander, confirmed to Nampa that 88 police members have been deployed to ensure safety and security at the polling stations, with two officers stationed at each site.