Commission completes report on border demarcations
President Nangolo Mbumba on Tuesday expressed his appreciation that retired judge Petrus Unengu, the chairman of the fifth Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission (BDDC) and his team were able to submit their full report after several delays.
According to Unengu, the commission proposes that Namibia not be divided into further regions, but that ten new constituencies be created, by amending the boundaries of 62 constituencies.
Two constituencies must be renamed, according to the commission's findings.
These details are contained in the report, which will not be made public until the president and Cabinet have discussed and approved the content.
Unengu said the report and the proposals made by the commission are aimed at "strengthening democracy in Namibia and making the country run more inclusively of all its citizens".
He said the important issues that were taken into account when drafting the proposed amendments include access to services, the cost of creating new regions or constituencies, the economic situation in the country and the number of voters in each constituency.
"We were also vigilant against risks of tribal and ethnic separation," the retired judge added.
Mbumba was pleased to hear that no new regions were being proposed and emphasised that no new governorships would therefore be created either.
Crucial for services
Deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele was also present and said her ministry was grateful for the good work that had been completed.
Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein, who is looking forward to the follow-up work of physical demarcation, said: "It will involve a considerable amount of technical work to really give meaning to the content of the report”.
Finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi was pleased to hear that cost efficiency had been taken into account and balanced with improved access to services.
Petrus Shaama, the head of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), said he is satisfied that the first part of the process has now been completed.
“This year the ECN is holding regional council and local authority elections, for which all voters in their constituencies must register and vote. Without those boundaries, the work of the ECN cannot begin," he explained.
– [email protected]
According to Unengu, the commission proposes that Namibia not be divided into further regions, but that ten new constituencies be created, by amending the boundaries of 62 constituencies.
Two constituencies must be renamed, according to the commission's findings.
These details are contained in the report, which will not be made public until the president and Cabinet have discussed and approved the content.
Unengu said the report and the proposals made by the commission are aimed at "strengthening democracy in Namibia and making the country run more inclusively of all its citizens".
He said the important issues that were taken into account when drafting the proposed amendments include access to services, the cost of creating new regions or constituencies, the economic situation in the country and the number of voters in each constituency.
"We were also vigilant against risks of tribal and ethnic separation," the retired judge added.
Mbumba was pleased to hear that no new regions were being proposed and emphasised that no new governorships would therefore be created either.
Crucial for services
Deputy minister of urban and rural development Evelyn !Nawases-Taeyele was also present and said her ministry was grateful for the good work that had been completed.
Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein, who is looking forward to the follow-up work of physical demarcation, said: "It will involve a considerable amount of technical work to really give meaning to the content of the report”.
Finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi was pleased to hear that cost efficiency had been taken into account and balanced with improved access to services.
Petrus Shaama, the head of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), said he is satisfied that the first part of the process has now been completed.
“This year the ECN is holding regional council and local authority elections, for which all voters in their constituencies must register and vote. Without those boundaries, the work of the ECN cannot begin," he explained.
– [email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article