Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Not all uniformed members of the Namibia Defense Force (NDF), the Namibian Police Force, the Namibian Correctional Service, and seagoing personnel will cast their votes countrywide on special voting day,13 November.
Uniformed personnel and Namibian citizens who may find themselves outside the country on 27 November are set to cast their vote today.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Colonel Peter Shilumbu said the only NDF members who will be casting their votes are those, who are expected to work at polling stations on 27 November. He added that the rest are expected to report for duty as usual.
“It is not all members of the NDF that are going to vote today. We are only hearing these things from the media and those writing are calling us to confirm the right information. The only members who will be voting, are the ones who will be on duty on 27 November. We expect the rest to be at work as usual,” said Shilumbu.
The Khomas region has only one polling station for today’s voting, which is situated at Van Rhyn Primary School right next to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in Windhoek North.
There are two army bases in Windhoek, one in Suiderhof and one in Oamites near Heroes Acre.
Shilumbu said those who are going to the polling point will not receive transportation and should make their own way there, just as they do to work.
Namibia Correctional Service (NCS) spokesperson Salmi Hangula said only security and medical personnel in the correctional facilities will participate in the special vote.
“Only those who will be on duty that day will participate. There is a list given to ECN and we are very disciplined, so one can’t just put on a uniform and go queue up to vote,” she said.
ECN spokesperson De Wet Siluka said the criteria to identify those that will be voting on the special voting day is that the security cluster members are expected to wear their uniform or have their membership cards, while seagoing personnel are also expected to carry their seaman’s books for identification.
