Kunene: The increased prevalence of adverse weather conditions resulting in drought in the Kunene Region has been identified as a major issue affecting disseminating information, educating, and enlightening voters about elections ahead of November’s watershed elections. The drought continues in the Kunene Region, particularly in the north, causing most farmers to leave their homes frequently in search of grazing lands.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the drought is so persistent that farmers have been forced to become nomads, which is also impacting voter education. There are times when voter educators must travel long distances in search of voters and community members in newly formed areas, and most of the time, the people have moved and are on their way to greener pastures, said Santos Muhunje, voter education officer in the Kunene Region. Muhenje raised these concerns during an interview with Nampa regarding an update on voter education and the youth ambassadors’ ongoing initiative to attract, educate
, and inform voters about the impending elections.
Despite the drought’s impact on their operations, Muhenje was confident that ECN voter educators and youth ambassadors would fulfil their responsibilities as they endeavour to reach everyone through all means possible. The region is experiencing its greatest drought, and the majority of our communities are farmers, hence the widespread movement in search of grazing. However, as the elections commission, we have a duty to play in ensuring that everyone is catered for through information dissemination so that they can make educated decisions for 27 November, said Muhenje.
ECN encountered a similar issue during the voter registration process, where they had to use loudspeakers to make announcements out in the field to alert farmers in places that were hard to reach. According to Muhenje, voter education is a continual process that will continue even while voting, as they make a significant contribution to election integrity. Muhenje said voter education progra
mmes provide citizens with balanced and impartial information about what they need to know in order to exercise their right to vote and how to vote while in the booth.
Furthermore, Muhenje stated that the electoral commission will target more women and young voters. More than 800,000 women are registered to vote, and 901,316 of all registered voters are under the age of 42 years. Muhenje stated that increasing political and civic involvement will help to develop an inclusive society and robust democratic participation from all parties engaged.