In Namibia's town of Otjiwarongo, a brewing controversy has residents on edge, with many threatening to organize a peaceful protest. The core issue revolves around allegations that the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has appointed individuals who are already employed in government-related roles as election officials for the upcoming regional council and local authority elections. This situation has sparked frustration among local community members, especially those who are currently unemployed and seeking similar opportunities.
The uproar began on a Monday, during a week-long training workshop held at Ombili Primary School Hall, where the ECN was preparing its officials for the upcoming elections. During this gathering, residents expressed their concerns, claiming that a significant proportion of the ECN trainees are individuals employed at various local institutions, including Orwetoveni Primary School, the Otjiwarongo Police Station, the army, and the Otjiwarongo municipality. For example, they mentioned a cleaner employed at the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund, a bookkeeper at the University of Namibia in Windhoek, and an employee at Telecom—all of whom are participating in the ECN training.
The angry group, comprising over fifty people, emphasized that they are unemployed and had applied for the election jobs, which the ECN's advertisements clearly indicated were intended for those without current employment. They argue that giving jobs to already employed individuals undermines fairness and the purpose of providing employment opportunities to the unemployed.
Charlotte Jantze, the ECN's returning officer in Otjiwarongo who is overseeing the training, responded by stating that their employment policies prohibit officials from holding secondary jobs while serving as election officials. She further explained that her team had instructed anyone with other employment to leave the training hall earlier that day. However, she pointed out a complication—the applications for the ECN positions were submitted online, making it challenging to verify whether the individuals in question are genuinely unemployed.
Adding to the controversy, some local officials and employees of the institutions involved have confirmed that those named are, in fact, actively employed at their respective workplaces. For example, representatives from the Otjiwarongo municipality and Orwetoveni Primary School acknowledged that certain trainees are presently on leave from their jobs. Additionally, Monica Snewe, the manager of the MVA Fund's Otjiwarongo office, clarified that one of the women involved is a cleaner employed through a private cleaning company that holds a cleaning contract with the MVA Fund. In a telephone interview, Erastus Kuume, owner of Erastus Kuume Investment CC—which supplies cleaning services to the MVA Fund—mentioned that the employee had discussed her ECN duties with him, and he permitted her to take leave for a few days to fulfill her election responsibilities.
In response to the growing concerns, Victoria Amutenya, the regional electoral officer for the Otjozondjupa region, promised to investigate the matter thoroughly and to ensure that any individuals holding other jobs would be sanctioned and removed from the official candidate list. On the same day, De Wet Siluka, spokesperson for the ECN, stated that the organization is prepared to review evidence submitted by concerned parties and, if verified, will remove the names of those in breach from the official list.
This situation raises important questions about transparency and fairness in employment practices—should individuals already holding jobs be disqualified from participating in election duties? Or is it reasonable to allow employed individuals to serve if they meet other criteria? This case prompts a broader debate about equal opportunity, integrity in electoral processes, and the challenges faced by unemployed citizens eager to contribute.
What are your thoughts? Should employment status disqualify someone from serving as an election official? Share your opinion in the comments and join the discussion.
