Namibians returned to the polls on Friday at 36 reopened stations, two days after a chaotic election marred by technical points, setting the stage for a vital check of the ruling SWAPO social gathering’s 34-year maintain on energy.
Tensions are rising within the traditionally peaceable southern African nation, the place Wednesday’s election noticed lengthy delays and was denounced as a “sham” by the opposition.
Voters endured waits of as much as 12 hours to solid their ballots in what is taken into account the hardest problem but for SWAPO, which has been in energy since Namibia’s independence from South Africa in 1990.
Wednesday’s queues have been attributable to technical issues, together with points with tablets used to register voters and shortages of poll papers.
In some circumstances, torches used to disclose invisible ink had run out of batteries, and cellular voting groups had left areas with voters nonetheless in line.
Facing criticism from each voters and events, the electoral fee prolonged voting for a second time, giving Namibians till Saturday night to vote.
In the capital, Windhoek, on the solely polling station set to reopen, about 60 folks confirmed up on Friday, together with Kluivert Muuondjo, who arrived at 4:30 a.m.
The 21-year-old scholar stated he had waited in line till 11 p.m. on Wednesday however left earlier than with the ability to vote as a result of he had exams the subsequent day.
“Everyone will have the chance to vote,” he stated. But as a result of Namibians can vote at any polling station, he was anxious “everyone will flock to one place again.”
The disarray led to indignant complaints from opposition events, with some calling for a halt to the electoral course of.
Opposition events have been scheduled to fulfill on Friday and subject a joint assertion, in accordance with Christine Aochamus, who represents the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) social gathering.
Youth unemployment, enduring inequalities, and the emergence of a era born after independence are difficult help for SWAPO, which has dominated since 1990.
Its candidate, Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who may turn into the primary girl to guide the nation if elected, might face an unprecedented second spherical within the mineral-rich nation.
“To open only one place in Khomas (the region that includes the capital) is absurd,” stated voter Ensley Engermund, who additionally stated he couldn’t vote on Wednesday due to lengthy queues regardless of attempting 4 totally different polling stations.
“Only 1.5 million voters are registered, and we get this chaos?” requested the 49-year-old safety agent.
“It was to get people frustrated.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com