Windhoekers flock to Dordabis to cast their votes

DORDABIS, 27 NOV (NAMPA) - Scores of Windhoek residents chose to cast their votes at Dordabis, a settlement 80 kilometers east of the capital.
Voters who spoke to Nampa expressed that they chose Dordabis to evade the long queues at the polling stations in Windhoek.
Prominent lawyer Henry Shimutwikeni, who was one of the first people to cast their votes at Dordabis B, shared similar sentiments, saying the process is faster at Dordabis B.
“When the lines are long it is a good thing as it shows that people have come out in numbers to exercise their voting rights. It also means the electorate has confidence in the process. Voting is quite a long process. I know it is best to vote where you live but I have a few obligations to attend to here, so I chose to vote here. I would have voted in Windhoek, but the queues are long and unfortunately, I don’t have preferential treatment like some government officials,” Shimutwikeni said.
He then urged Namibians to refrain from spreading disinformation and misinformation aimed at discrediting the electoral process.
“The Electoral Commission of Namibia has been trying its best together with their extended team of young people they have on the ground. We should refrain from making comments and statements which are unsubstantiated, and which are aimed at causing some dim view of the process. If it is that you detect something which is untoward, most polling stations have an occurrence book, where you may report any issues to election officials, and they record it. Let us stop making statements which will cause people to have mistrust in the process which the systems are endeavouring to run as effectively as they can,” Shimutwikeni said.
Another voter, prominent businessman Amos Shiyuka also chose to vote in Dordabis, saying the queue is fast and the process efficient.
“I chose Dordabis because I farm in this area so I thought it would be the best venue to vote. I was also avoiding the long queues in Windhoek. Namibians should exercise their democratic right, voting means they participate in nation building, national issues, challenges and national benefits. This way, they Namibians can complain if they have complaints but also celebrate when Namibia does well. Casting your vote should be something we enjoy doing as Namibians because it adds value to our lives. It’s a barometer that tells us whether we are happy with the current situation or not, whether we want improvement,” Shiyuka said.
Presiding officer at Dordabis B, Lizeth Rukero told Nampa the voting process is going well and that voters are turning up. Preference, she noted, is given to pensioners, pregnant women and disabled persons.
She said the polling station has not experienced challenges yet. Rukero noted that a majority of the voters are registered old voters.
(NAMPA)
EB/ND/EK