Hertta-Maria Amutenja, Allexer Namundjebo, Martin Endjala
Namibians across the country faced long waits and numerous challenges on election day for the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Amid the heat, logistical issues at polling stations, power outages, and frustrations among voters created a tense atmosphere that hindered the smooth running of the process.
People started lining up at polling stations as early as 04:00 on Wednesday, hoping to be among the first to cast their vote.
Many of them were unprepared for the delays and chaos that plagued election day.
The voting process in the Oshikoto Region, specifically at Omuthiya, ran relatively smoothly.
However, polling stations like Kaniita faced delays as officials struggled with a lack of power and late-arriving tents that provided much-needed shade to voters.
The discomfort of standing under the harsh sun for long periods exacerbated frustrations among those already waiting to cast their ballots.
Walvis Bay Urban Constituency by-election candidate, Knowledge Ipinge, who had been active on social media during the day, urged voters who were still waiting in line after the official 21:00 closing time to remain at their polling stations until they had cast their ballots, even if it meant waiting well into the early morning hours.
Ipinge’s social media posts encouraged voters to demand ballot papers if they were unavailable and to request that the presiding officer or returning officer of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) be held accountable for the delays.
In Rehoboth, elderly voters filled the polling stations, and very few young voters showed up to cast their ballots.
In the Samora Machel Constituency at Addmore Kindergarten, voters called on political parties and presidential candidates to provide water and shade to help ease the waiting times under the sweltering sun.
Tensions escalated at Groot Aub when a driver, named Natah was accused of accepting bribes from voters to bypass the queue.
The police were called in to defuse the situation, but the incident was one of many that left voters feeling frustrated with the process.
Essential workers, including aviation staff and service station attendants, faced unique challenges as well, with many joining the long queues after their shifts had ended.
At Hosea Kutako Airport, aviation workers were forced to wait in the same long lines as voters redirected from other stations, such as Windhoek, Dordabis, and Kaapsfarm, causing anxiety over the possibility of missing their opportunity to vote.
Network and power problems caused a delay in the Kaniita polling station in Omuthiya, with presiding officer Beata Sheya reporting the use of power banks to support operations.
The lack of proper facilities, including the late arrival of a tent for shade and inadequate voter support, compounded these delays.
Concerns also arose over political interference when Swapo party flags were seen near polling stations, including in Kaniita, where Swapo posters were left on poles throughout voting hours.
Affirmative Repositioning chairperson in the Oshana region, Angelina Immanuel raised similar concerns at the Ondangwa Trade Fair Centre, fearing undue influence on voters due to the visibility of party flags during voting.
Despite these issues, some polling stations reported smoother operations.
Ester Jermia, the presiding officer at the Omuthiya Elcin polling station, confirmed that all necessary equipment was provided, and the process ran smoothly.
Pandeinge Nghinamuduva, the presiding officer at the Omuthiya Multi-Purpose Centre, echoed these sentiments, although he acknowledged the lack of shade for voters waiting in long queues under the sun.
Meanwhile, in Katutura, voters found some light relief amidst the frustration when a vendor set up an ice cream stall outside a polling station.
The vendor’s presence provided a small comfort to those enduring the long waits, offering a cool treat to beat the heat.
In certain areas, the media encountered resistance.
At the Omuthiya Iipundi SS polling station, voters rejected any filming attempts, fearing that the media might misrepresent their actions.
In a tense exchange, some voters resorted to insults when a journalist tried to film them, highlighting the growing mistrust between the media and voters.
Despite the pushback, some individuals remained open to interviews, preferring to remain off-camera to avoid misquotation or misinterpretation.
At the Okapale B polling station in Goreangab, a peculiar incident unfolded when a 55-year-old! Khoeseb Ludwieg, also known as Gata Patata, cast his vote and then demanded money from a journalist who interviewed him.
