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THE leader of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Bernadus Swartbooi, says the country’s electoral law needs to clearly distinguish between a registered voter’s place of work and place of residency during the registration process.
Swartbooi says the current system has created a lack of democracy for local communities.
He says some communities have been overlooked and excluded by residents of other regions.
“For instance, with the construction of an army base, certain army officers would be brought in to outnumber certain communities.
“These military officers will be allowed to register for regional and local authority elections. These are the real problems that could undermine our democracy.
“In Omaheke, where the tarred road is being built, communities have already expressed their concerns.
“So, there is a narrative, and it’s a problem. People in those localities should have a genuine voice in their own governance . . .”
Swartbooi said this last week during a two-day stakeholders’ consultation on amendments to the Electoral Act of 2014 in Windhoek.
He was commenting on a discussion on Section 22, which refers the requirements for registering as a voter.
The ECN said the section provides that prospective voters should register in the areas they reside in, and not where they are originally from.
It was also proposed that the ECN introduces a system through which an individual, who finds himself or herself in a particular constituency during registration, is enabled to register, and that the ECN should ensure the registration is captured in the constituency where the individual resides.
The abolition of tendered votes was also discussed, since in the past this has resulted in a 200% voter turnout in some constituencies.
However, the ECN said this issue is being addressed in the amendment bill.
The commission rejected calls by political parties for the chief electoral and referenda officer to be appointed for a three-year period.
“The electoral cycle is five years, and if the chief’s term of office is only three years, it will be too disruptive. Therefore, a five-year term is acceptable,” the ECN stated.
The electoral body also rejected a proposal for election commissioners to serve for only three years, saying it would be “too disruptive”.
AUDIT
Another point of discussion was that the auditor general should still audit the ECN’s books – even if the electoral body becomes fully independent.
The commission said this is a new addition to the draft electoral amendment bill.
This prospect was, however, questioned by representatives of political parties.
“The ECN wants to be independent, yet they are giving away functions to the auditor general. This means political parties would have to deal with the ECN on some matters and with the auditor general on others,” the minutes of the consultative workshop reads.
The ECN, however, says being audited by the auditor general “has no bearing on the issue of the ECN’s independence”.
Auditor general Junias Kandjeke during the meeting said he does not resort under the public service.
He said the auditor general does not report to the government, but directly to the National Assembly.
Another issue raised was subjecting electoral officers to lifestyle audits.
The ECN said it has taken note of the proposal.
Kandjeke said the auditor general does not have prosecutorial authority, adding that public institutions must abide by a public service code of conduct to deal with irregularities and corrupt practices.
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