ECN still needs 2 195 vehicles
Testing of private vehicles starts today
The commission has urged government ministries and agencies to make their vehicles available so that it relies less on privately owned cars.
With elections just over a week away, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) says it still needs 2 195 vehicles to conduct the National Assembly and presidential elections.
This was revealed in a notice issued by the ECN over the weekend. The commission indicated that it has currently secured less than half of the vehicles needed.
ECN requires a total of 3 919 vehicles but has only secured 1 724 so far, with the Hardap Region being the only area where sufficient vehicles have been secured.
The vehicles will be used to transport election officials and equipment.
ECN has invited interested vehicle owners to make their cars available for inspection and roadworthy testing, which will take place from today until tomorrow.
“Vehicles used for the general registration of voters and those vehicles tested during GRV but not used and indicated to avail their vehicles are included on the vehicles secured,” ECN stated.
Shortfall
Earlier this year, the the ECN told President Nangolo Mbumba that it is short of roughly N$60 million to run a smooth voter registration and national election process.
ECN has earmarked N$269 million towards facilitating this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
"There is normally a budget review process with the ministry of finance, and I think it will take place in August. It was a sufficient [budget]. The [census] statistics were released after we had already procured some of the registration kits and, with the new figure, we needed to take additional kits. It means there is a shortfall, but we will present our case to the ministry,” ECN chairperson Elsie Nghikembua said at the time.
“The shortfall could be in the range of N$60 million, but that might not be the final figure. There were many unforeseen expenses – more teams and having to source more vehicles from private owners.”
She pleaded with government ministries and agencies to release their vehicles so the ECN relies less on private owners.
"During the election period, we need a lot more vehicles. It might be 900 or over a 1 000 and certainly those cannot be purchased in one financial year. At the moment, we only have 110 vehicles in our fleet, some at headquarters and some at our offices. But probably only about 60% are in a workable condition. That is why we approached the ministry to procure additional vehicles,” Nghikembua said.
#NamibiaDecides2024
This was revealed in a notice issued by the ECN over the weekend. The commission indicated that it has currently secured less than half of the vehicles needed.
ECN requires a total of 3 919 vehicles but has only secured 1 724 so far, with the Hardap Region being the only area where sufficient vehicles have been secured.
The vehicles will be used to transport election officials and equipment.
ECN has invited interested vehicle owners to make their cars available for inspection and roadworthy testing, which will take place from today until tomorrow.
“Vehicles used for the general registration of voters and those vehicles tested during GRV but not used and indicated to avail their vehicles are included on the vehicles secured,” ECN stated.
Shortfall
Earlier this year, the the ECN told President Nangolo Mbumba that it is short of roughly N$60 million to run a smooth voter registration and national election process.
ECN has earmarked N$269 million towards facilitating this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
"There is normally a budget review process with the ministry of finance, and I think it will take place in August. It was a sufficient [budget]. The [census] statistics were released after we had already procured some of the registration kits and, with the new figure, we needed to take additional kits. It means there is a shortfall, but we will present our case to the ministry,” ECN chairperson Elsie Nghikembua said at the time.
“The shortfall could be in the range of N$60 million, but that might not be the final figure. There were many unforeseen expenses – more teams and having to source more vehicles from private owners.”
She pleaded with government ministries and agencies to release their vehicles so the ECN relies less on private owners.
"During the election period, we need a lot more vehicles. It might be 900 or over a 1 000 and certainly those cannot be purchased in one financial year. At the moment, we only have 110 vehicles in our fleet, some at headquarters and some at our offices. But probably only about 60% are in a workable condition. That is why we approached the ministry to procure additional vehicles,” Nghikembua said.
#NamibiaDecides2024
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