Otjiwarongo: Otjiwarongo residents on Monday threatened to stage a peaceful demonstration against the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) for allegedly recruiting individuals with government jobs to serve as ECN officials during the upcoming Regional Councils and Local Authorities elections. The aggrieved residents made the threats on Monday at the Ombili Primary School Hall, where the ECN’s week-long training workshop is taking place.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the residents alleged that half of the ECN officials undergoing training are employed at institutions such as Orwetoveni Primary School, the Otjiwarongo Police Station, the army, and the Otjiwarongo Municipality. The group of more than 50 people, who are unemployed, want to be considered for these ECN positions, arguing that the ECN’s advertisement clearly stated that the jobs were intended for unemployed individuals.
ECN Otjiwarongo Returning Officer, Charlotte Jantze, who is conducting the training, mentioned that the ECN employment contract does not allow its officials to hold other jobs. She announced that any person undergoing training who holds another job should leave the hall. She pointed out that the problem lies with the online application process, which makes it difficult to verify employment status.
Two senior managers at the Telecom Otjiwarongo office, two Otjiwarongo Municipality officials, and Orwetoveni Primary School confirmed to Nampa that the individuals named by the aggrieved group are indeed employees at their workplaces and are currently on leave. MVA Fund Otjiwarongo Manager, Monica Snewe, clarified that the employee in question is a cleaner employed by a private cleaning company contracted by the MVA Fund.
Erastus Kuume, owner of Erastus Kuume Investment CC, which is contracted by the MVA Fund, confirmed in a telephone interview that the employee had discussed the matter with him, and he allowed her to take the ECN job for a few days. Otjozondjupa ECN Regional Electoral Officer, Victoria Amutenya, stated that she would investigate the matter and remove any individuals with other jobs from the ECN list. ECN national spokesperson, De Wet Siluka, also said that the ECN will remove such individuals’ names from the list once evidence is provided.