Vote - The Namibian Voter's Newsletter - September 2013 edition

7/27/2019 Vote - The Namibian Voter's Newsletter - September 2013 edition.

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the voters newsletter

September 2013

Peiden Phamba AnnunceNamibia New Pliical Bundaie

Inside this issue ...ECN welcme new Diec Diabiliie maineaming eceive ECN aenin

Flexibiliy in ve and civic educain can bea all..


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ECN VOTE NEWSLETTER

Invitation to participate - All

Namibian citizens have the

right to participate in peacefulpolitical activity. They can

form and join political parties,

participate in elections if they

are over 18 years of age and also

stand for public office if they are

21 years of age. Elections are an

essential part of the democratic

development and consolidation

of every state. They represent a

major means of achieving the

objectives of good governance,

human development and

poverty alleviation.

Fro the Desk of the Editor

Table of Contents

Citizens are required to be

loyal to the country by active

participation in democracy and

in return they are entitled to the

rights and protections provided

by the government. The rights

of citizens to partake in political

activities are enshrined in the

Namibian Constitution.

The electoral cycle is a process of

events that are equally important

and need to be observed by

all loyal citizens. These include

planning; voters education;

registration of voters; compilation

of the voters register; display and

inspection of the voters register;

voting on Election Day, counting

of votes; and announcements

of results. As loyal citizens we are

supposed to follow and observe

each step of the electoral cycle

so that we are at par with eventsand make our meaningful

contributions where necessary,

so that a free, fair, democratic

and participatory process is

assured for all to benefit.

President Pohamba Announces Namibias

New Political Boundaries 3

ECN welcomes new Director 4

Team Work and Competence 5

Disabilities mainstreaming receives ECN attention 6

Technology for the Electoral Processes 7

Welcome to the ECN team!!! 8

Flexibility in voter and civic education

can beat all.. 10

ECN Regional voter Education Officers Addresses 12

VOTE Newsletter is published by the

Electoral Commission of Namibias

Democracy Building Division and aims

at disseminating electoral related

information, covering news and

events as they unfold in Namibia and

beyond. VOTE does not necessarily

reflect the official views and opinions

of the management of the Electoral

Commission of Namibia. Text material

may be reprinted or reproduced

freely with the acknowledgements to

VOTE and author, where applicable.

All rights to photographs, illustrations

or any other part thereof are

reserved. Permission to reproduce

must be obtained from the Electoral

Commission of Namibia.

Editor: Hilda Nakakuwa

Contributors:

ECN staffNjandereeko Virore, AVEO

Oaheke Region

Laina Hakweenda - Unam Student

Intern

Copilation: Gustaf Tomanga

Distribution:

Division Democracy Building.

Contributions are welcome in the

form of articles, news, features and

comments related to electoral issues.

They can be sent to:

The Editor

VOTE Newsletter

ECN HEAD OFFICES

Private Bag 13352

67-71 Van Rhjin Street

Windhoek North

Tel: 061-376 217

Fax: 061-237618

e-mail:[email protected]


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ECN VOTE NEWSLETTER

President Pohaba Announces NaibiasNew Political Boundaries

President Hifikepunye Pohamba

announced the new arrange-

ments on 08 August 2013

regarding the political boundaries

of regions and constituencies

as per the 4th Delimitation

Commission recommendations.

These resulted into Namibia

having 14 regions now after

the former Kavango region

was divided into Kavango East

and Kavango West regions

respectively. In addition, 14 new

constituencies were created

which now stretches the country

in a total number of 121 from the

previous 107 constituencies.

The recommendations also

resulted to changes of some

names of the regions and

constituencies whereby the

former Caprivi region was

renamed Zambezi Region while

Karas region only received the

clicks before the name and is now

called //Karas Region. Lderitz

constituency has been renamed

!NamiNs Constituency and

the Steinhausen constituency

in Omaheke region was given

back its original name and

is now called Okarukambe

constituency, whereas Schuck-

mansburg reclaimed its indige-

nous name of Luhonono.

In terms of Section 5 sub-section

4 of the Regional Councils Act,

elections in respect of the new

region and constituencies will

only be held in the next Regional

Councils elections, said the

President. He further called

upon all stakeholders to study

the new development carefully

as the third National Voters

Register will be based on the

new arrangements.

Henceforth it is crucial for the

general public and the voters in

REGION CONSTITUENCY CONSTITUENCY CENTRE

1.Kunene 1.Opuwo Rural Otuani

2.Oshana 2.Ondangwa Urban Ondangwa

3.Ohangwena 3.Oshikunde Omutwewomunhu

4.Oshikoto 4.Nehale lyaMpingana Okoloti

5.Kavango East 5.Ndonga Linena Ndonga Linena

6. Zambazi 6.Judea Lyaboloma Sangwali

7.Kabbe South Nakabolelwa

7.Hardap 8.Aranos Aranos

9.Daweb Malthahohe

8.//Karas 10. Karasburg West Noordoewer

9. Kavango West 11. Nkurenkuru Nkurenkuru12.Tondoro Mburuuru

13. Mankumpi Satotwa

14.Ncamangoro Ncamangoro

particular to gradually acquaint

themselves with these new

developments to be able to act

accordingly, especially in light

of the Presidential and National

Assembly elections to be heldin 2014 as well as the regional

and local authorities councils

elections slated for 2015.

President Hikepunye Pohaba


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ECN VOTE NEWSLETTER

4

The Commissioners, management

and the entire staff members of the

Electoral Commission of Namibia

enthusiastically welcomed the

new Director of Elections, Professor

Paul John Isaak at the press

conference which was attended

by various media representatives.

The Chairperson of the Electoral

Commission, Advocate Notemba

Tjipueja in her welcoming remarks

ECN welcoes new Director

Laina Hakweenda Una Student Intern

stressed that the appointment

of the new director was long

overdue so that the Commission

can continue with its mandatory

duties as soon as possible. She

emphasized that his appointment

was a great choice that the

organization was confident

that Professor Isaak will fulfill his

mandate as expected of him.

Professor in his turn thanked the

President for appointing him as

a new Director, the position he

officially commenced on the 1st

September 2013. Receiving a

letter from the President is always

a great honour and I will take it

seriously, said Professor Isaak. He

indicated that he would follow the

ECN already paved road which is

the manifestation to direct, control

and supervise the elections in a just

and credible manner.

Commissioner Ulrich Freyer who

also spoke at the same occasion

indicated to the new Director that

he has great staff to work with.

His sentiments were supported byCommissioner Barney Karuuombe

who added that: we all have a duty

to see to it that Namibia prospers.


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ECN VOTE NEWSLETTER

5

Tea Work and Copetence - Prof. Paul Isaak

The new Director of Elections, Prof. Paul John Isaak,

made a modest call for team work and competence

in conducting electoral activities when he first officially

addressed the entire ECN staff members on 4 September

2013. He stressed that the institutions mandatory functions

to direct, supervise and control the electoral activities as

stipulated in the Electoral Act of 1992 as amended

need to be observed seriously at all times by the staff

members during each electoral cycle in order for the

institution to succeed. He emphasized that in their

service delivery staff should not act as individuals but

as a team.

He noted that the conduct of

the electoral activities must be

declared impartial and credible

by the relevant stakeholders with

the view to promote democratic

principles and values not only inthe country, but in Africa and the

world at large.


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Disabilities ainstreaing receives ECN attention

ECN VOTE NEWSLETTER

6

The Electoral Commission of

Namibia has taken a vigorous

stand to sensitize and educate

its voter education officers on

disabilities mainstreaming in the

quest to make voter education

activities more inclusive. The

voter education officers in all the

regions attended the disabilities

mainstreaming workshops in June

this year, which were held in three

blocks: the Omaheke, Khomas,

//Karas, Erongo and Hardap

regions in Windhoek, while Kunene,

Omusati, Oshana and Oshikoto

in Ongwediva and Ohangwena,

Otjozondjupa, Kavango and Caprivi

in Rundu respectively.

In her official remarks, the

Chairperson of ECN, Adv. NotembaTjipueja emphasized the need for all

eligible Namibians, including persons

with disability to be afforded equal

opportunities to fully participate in

the electoral processes. Therefore

it is imperative that the ECN provides

an enabling environment for persons

with disability just like any others to

exercise their participatory right and

ensure this right is not denied, saidthe Chairperson.

She noted that although the

ECN mainstreams disability in the

electoral processes, there are still a

host of challenges experienced by

this group of marginalized persons

which in many instances result

in persons with disabilities being

disenfranchised or disqualified. She

said that persons with disabilities

often find it difficult to access the

registration and polling centers.

In addition, they have little or no

access to voter education material

and information. Adv. Tjipueja

said the ECN must ensure that

these challenges are addressed

by mainstreaming disability in the

electoral processes and empower

voter education officers who are

the field workforce with relevant

skills and knowledge to provide and

conduct inclusive voter education.

The disability mainstreaming

workshops focused on key areas

such as the use of accepted

terminologies, the right based

approach the right methods

the voter education officers

have to employ to ensure that

persons with different

types of disabilities

e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y

participate in voter

education activities;

how to assist people

with disabilities and

learning sign languageamong others. The

participants apart from

learning the basic sign-language,

also had opportunities to do

practical sign communication with

learners at the Special Schools in

the respective towns where the

workshops were held.

In the end, the voter education

officers appreciated the ECN for

this workshop which provided

them with a broad understanding

and knowledge on disabilities

mainstreaming in the voter

education program and the

electoral processes in particular.

Disability mainstreaming has been

difficult to most of them given the

dynamics and challenges faced by

persons with a variety of disabilities

in the communities.

Voter Education Ofcers with Eluwa SpecialSchool learners

Voter Education Ofcers practicing sign language


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Technology for the Electoral Processes


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ECN VOTE NEWSLETTER

subjects. Petrus Shaama

matriculated at Oshigambo High

School in 1987 with Matriculation

Exemption from Cape Education

Department

He has 25 years-working

experience in the Public Service

where he served at various

positions and different levels

both at entry and promotional

levels of which his work career

started with the Ministry of

Basic Education, Sport and

Culture between 1988-1998 as

a Teacher, Clerk, Senior Clerkand Control Officer respectively.

Between 1998-2013, he worked

for the Ministry of Health and

Social Services as a Chief Control

Officer until his appointment

at the Electoral Commission of

Namibia effect from 1st June 2013

as a Deputy Director, Division

Planning and Registration.

During his work career, he

has been seconded to the

then Directorate of Elections

under the Office of the Prime

PETRUS SHAAmA, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR; DIVISION PLANNING AND REGISTRATION

Mr. Petrus Shaama is a holder of

Bachelor of Technology Degree

and National Diploma (Human

Resources Management) from

the Polytechnic of Namibia

with Business Management

(Purchasing Management,

Operations Management,

Financial Management and

Strategic Management),

Human Resources

Management, Management of

Training, Industrial Relations,

Organizational Development,

Research Methodology and

Research Project as his core

Minister making him as one of

the founders of the Electoral

System in the Republic of

Namibia. Mr. Shaama served

first in the electoral system as the

election officer during the first

democratic Namibia elections

in 1989 under the supervision of

the United Nations Transitional

Assistance Group UNTAG which

paved the independence of

Namibia in 1990. His elections

work career did not only provide

him the opportunity to serve

as the election officer, but

also as supervisor, presidingofficer, returning officer, area

manager and finally as the

regional coordinator both during

the Presidential and National

Assembly Elections in 2009 and

subsequently the Regional and

Local Authorities Elections in 2010.

With such massive experience

in the electoral processes, he

proved required leadership,

management skills and abilities

in this field which contributed

expressively to his promotion to

the position of a Deputy Director.

MNr. JoostE, THE NEW TRAINING OFFICER

Wlom to th ecn tam!!!

Petrus Shaaa

Mr. Richard Jooste Hasheela is

a holder of Bachelor of Science

in Business Administration from

International University of

Management then Institute of

Higher Education. He joined the

Public Service way back in 2003

as an Assistant Human Resources

Practitioner at the Ministry of


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ECN VOTE NEWSLETTER

Kahupi Etuna Ndahafa

Richard Jooste Hasheela

Education in Oshikoto region

before he was promoted to the

position of a Human Resources

Practitioner in the same ministry

in Ohangwena region. In 2010

he got a post of a Training Officer

at Oshikoto Regional Council in

Omuthiya, the position he held

until his transfer to the Electoral

Commission of Namibia, ECN, in

April 2013.

Mr. Hasheela brought along

a laudable of experience in

the field of Human Resources.

As a training officer he has to

ensure that the institution human

resources development and

skills are improved to benefit

the organization and the Public

Service in general. This is so

because the institution is tasked

with a great responsibility of the

directing, supervising, controlling

and managing all the national

electoral activities as stipulated

in the Constitution of Namibia,

the Electoral Act and other

relevant regulations.

Therefore, the ECN needs well-

equipped staff through a well-

planned cum coordinated

training plan so that they carry

out their duties in the impartial

and professional manners in

order to live up to the mandate of

the institution at all times. Having

the human capital such as Mr.

Hasheela, ECN becomes one of

the best election management

institutions not only in Africa but

also in the world.

Kahupi Etuna Ndahafa Born

in 1985 January 15, she holds

KAHUPI ETUNA NDAHAFA, SENIOR ADmINISTRATION OFFICER

a Bachelor of Technology in

Business Administration from

the Polytechnic of Namibia.

Currently she pursues the

Master in Business Administration

with Eastern Southern Africa

Management Institute.

She is a very dynamic and

diligent, proud single mother of

a 3 year old boy. She joined the

Electoral Commission of Namibia

ECN as from the 01 October

2012 holding the position of theSenior Administration Officer in

the Directorate: Finance and

Administration, Auxiliary Services.

Before she joined ECN, she has

been working for the Ministry of

Health and Social Services since

2009 till the 30 September 2012.

Her responsibilities include

among others the control of

the procurements, processing

of purchase orders and claim

forms, liaise with the Ministry of

Finance on supplier codes, take

full charge of the registry services

and maintenance of laborsaving devices


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ECN VOTE NEWSLETTER

Flexibility in voter and civic educationcan beat all..

Njandereeko Virore, AVEO Oaheke Region

Voter and civic education

is an interesting and worthy

to be carried out with

flexibility coupled with more

passion, perseverance

and patience as there

are countless challenges

one can encounter which

makes it to be somehow a

complex exercise. Some of

the challenges are hereby

highlighted to demonstrate

what it means by flexibility in

voter and civic education.

The tiing of eetings/Sessions; The voter education

officers (VEOs) and assistant

voter education

officers (AVEOs) set their

planned schedules

to hold sessions

per villages taking

into consideration

the travelling times

between places and

delays amongst the

communities to turn

up at the meetings.

However in most cases,

the farm owners and

other influential people

in the communities set

up their own time as

they deem it fit or as

per their activities depending

on the seasons of the year

in every constituency and

region. As such, the poor

voter education officers

have no other option (s) but

to accept the time slots in

order to conduct the sessions

or else they will be labeled

as not visiting or providing

voter education to the

communities. In the same

vein this also impacts on the

whole daily activities to be

embarked upon by the voter

education officers. Thesetime slots at many a times are

scheduled most likely during

the afternoon from 13H00 up

to 17H00 or around 18H00

latest.

Location/Venue factor: In most

cases the community resort

to use their normal gathering

places and community

assembling venues and centers

such as community halls for

those living in urban areas and

the rural communities most

of the time assembled under

designated trees, homesteads,

water points among others.

However, it happens in someinstances cases that some

members of the community

VEO conducting session house to house


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ECN VOTE NEWSLETTER

dont get along or sit

under one roof or tree at

some of the gathering

areas due to their own

political believes and

social issues which

eventually make them

out of bound or not

accessible. Therefore

the VEOs have not

another options but the

door-to-door or house

to house sessions is the

only alternative left

which is tiresome and

time consuming.

Denied Entry: most of

the farms are not accessible;they are either locked and

have a big sign board

with an inscription which

reads private property no

entry and threatening of

persecution thereof. In some

instances those that are

open, one can enter but not

welcome to have the sessions,

given awkward times.

Despite all the

challenges the voter

education officers are

determine that voter

education programhas to be conducted

and information

dissemination is

provided to all the

citizens and the entire

public if democracy is

to thrive in the land of

the brave.

VEO conducting a session during hot weather conditions under a tree

VEO using the speakers to address the counity in the Kalahari constituency


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the voters newsletter

1. Caprivi Region, Caprivi Regional Council, Katima Mulilo Tel: 066-253620 Fax: 066-255621

2. Erongo Region Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare Office Alpha Koop Building Swakopmund

Tel: 064-407261 Fax: 064-404836

3. Khoas Region Old NHE Office-Stop & Shop, Ondoto Street next to Builders Warehouse, Okuryangava,

Katutura Tel/Fax: 061-211955

4. Kavango Region Old Kavango Regional Council Complex Rundu Tel: 066-256301 Fax: 066-256307

5. Kunene Region Old Kunene Regional Council Complex Opuwo Tel: 065-273500 Fax: 065:273054

6. Karas Region Old Kaiserliche Postamt (Opposite Central Park) Jooste Street, Keetmanshoop

Tel: 063-222924 Fax: 063-240635

7. Oaheke Region Old Bears Building Gobabis Tel: 062-564690 Fax: 062-564151

8. Oshana Region, Continental No.1 Building Oshakati Tel: 065-221042 Fax: 065-221046

9. Ohangwena Region Eenhana Community Centre Eenhana Tel: 065-263303 Fax: 065-263074

10. Ousati Region Tona Trade Office, Erf 578 Nakakandi Mukatala Street, Outapi Tel: 065-251693

Fax: 065-251692

11. Oshikoto Region Ministry of Agriculture Building, Omuthiyagwiipundi Tel: 065-244011 Fax: 065-224197

12. Otjozondjupa Region 31-32 Bahnhoff, Hage Geingob Street, Otjiwarongo Tel/Fax: 067-302954

13. Hardap Region - Ert 881 Leonardweg (Opposite Hardap Regional Council Offices), Mariental

Tel: 063-240742 Fax: 063-240635

ECN REGIONAL VOTER EDUCATION OFFICES ADDRESSES

Documents

Vote - The Namibian Voter's Newsletter - September 2013 edition