NUDO blasts ECN for delay in voters’ registration

WINDHOEK, The National Unity Democratic Organization (NUDO)’s Youth League has lambasted delays in the commencement of the supplementary voters' registration last Thursday, as initially scheduled.

The NUDO Youth League Secretary for the Khomas Region, Pro Laste Ngueumenga, said in a statement issued to the media on Monday that the problems experienced with the start of the registration process might cast doubt on the ability of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to effectively run the upcoming November 2009 Presidential and National Assembly (NA) elections.

“If the ECN begins with the delay of materials on supplementary registration, what can we expect at the election days in November?” Ngueumenga asked.

The commencement of a two-week long supplementary voters' registration process was delayed because of the late arrival of materials, especially printing machines for voters' cards from neighbouring South Africa.

The delay was allegedly caused by a strike action of customs officials in that country that significantly slowed the clearance of items at customs checkpoints.

The electoral body also failed to receive an additional 300 vehicles from various government ministries and agencies by Thursday last week.

However, the electoral body confirmed over the weekend that all election materials have been dispatched to all 13 political regions of the country for distribution to the various registration points.

The ECN also noted that it received a substantial number of vehicles from some government agencies to adequately address the shortage of transport.

The electoral body will have a meeting with the various registered political parties after a thorough assessment of the delay in the commencement of the registration process at some registration points is done.

The ECN has stated that remedial exercises either in the form of a reinforcement of existing teams, or the extension of registration hours, or both, will be considered if the need arises.

While the extension of the registration period which is scheduled to end next week Wednesday is not excluded, it is feared that this might interfere with the completion of the voters' roll.

However, the NUDO Youth League requested the ECN to add one or two more days to make up for the delay.

In a telephonic interview with Nampa on Monday, Ngueumenga said some sectors of society will cast doubt on the impartiality of the ECN and lose trust in the electoral body.