SOME residents of the Okaku constituency have implored the incoming councillor to consider providing them with drought-relief food and building earth dams for agricultural use.
Okaku residents in the Oshana region are voting for a new councillor in a by-election on Friday.
Four political parties are contesting in the election. They are the Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters, the Independent Patriots for Change, Swapo, and the Popular Democratic Movement.
Polling stations opened at 07h00, and will be closing at 21h00.
Resident Ndemupelila Nangolo (61) from Oshekasheka village said the constituency needs roads and employment opportunities for its unemployed youth.
“Whoever wins the elections should consider giving us drought-relief food, because we are not sure if we will harvest this year as we haven’t received sufficient rainfall,” she said.
Nangolo said the incoming councillor should provide enough communal taps and earth dams in the constituency for the youth to start their own agricultural projects.
Another resident, Julia Shindongo (75), said she wants the councillor to talk to the minister of finance and public enterprises to increase social grants for both pensioners and vulnerable children.
“We are six in the house, and we are hungry. The councillor should give us drought-relief food,” she said.
Julia Kanana said she wants the councillor to visit residents and listen to their challenges.
“He should consider creating job opportunities for child-headed households, and give them drought-relief food,” she said.