The by-election for the Moses //Garoëb Constituency in the Khomas Region got underway Friday morning, with constituency residents casting their votes for the next councillor.

The elections follow the death of Swapo councillor Aili Venonya in October 2022.

Speaking to Nampa here Friday morning, returning officer Rakondjerua Kavari said the election process started on time, at exactly 07h00.

“Polling stations opened at 07h00 and the voter turnout is here and there, but we anticipate more voters during the course of the day,” Kavari said.

He noted that although the voting process ends at 21h00, the elections might go beyond the set time as determined by the last person joining the voting queue before 21h00.

“If there are people in the queue at 21h00 we assign a police officer to stand just behind the last person in the queue and we assist everyone who is in the queue before 21h00, so it can it go until late depending on how many are in the queue come 21h00,” Kavari said.

Voters are casting their votes at 25 polling stations set up for the by-election.

The nominated candidates include two independent candidates who are both former Swapo members, Moses Hengobe and Hashoongo Ndalifilwa. The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) candidate is Moses Mwandingi, the Swapo candidate Stefanus Ndengu and the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) candidate, Shinime Nakale.

The constituency has 45 000 inhabitants, the majority of whom live without electricity, proper sanitation and potable water.

(NAMPA)

Source: The Namibian Press Agency