Swapo in early lead

**NewsTracker** · 30th November 2009, 12:57 PM

New Era - by Toivo Ndjebela

OSHAKATI – By late yesterday, results from the three northern regions of Oshana, Omusati and Oshikoto had not been announced, apart from a few polling station results availed in Oshana.

Preliminary results were received from Ompundja, Iikuku and Mweshipandeka polling stations, with Swapo leading the race by a wide margin compared to its closest rival, the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP).

At Ompundja, situated in the Oshakati East constituency of the Oshana Region, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Swapo scooped 185 votes in the Presidential elections, followed by RDP’s Hidipo Hamutenya who garnered four votes.

Republican Party (RP) President, Henk Mudge, and Congress of Democrats’ Ben Ulenga got one vote each, with the remainder of the candidates getting nothing.

In National Assembly polls, Swapo got 183 votes, RDP four, while RP and CoD got one vote each.

At Iikuku polling station, also based in Oshakati East constituency, a similar trend was observed, with Swapo leading by 244 votes, while RDP trailed them by four votes.

All People’s Party (APP) and Swanu of Namibia got one vote each. As for Presidential results at Iikuku, Pohamba took 249 of the total votes cast, followed by Hamutenya with five votes, while Mudge, APP’s Ignatius Shixwameni and Kuaima Riruako of Nudo all got one vote each.

Another polling station in Oshana, Mweshipandeka High School of the Ongwediva constituency, recorded a stunning lead by Swapo that garnered 783 votes, followed by RDP with 128 votes.

CoD emerged third best at Mweshipandeka with five votes, while Nudo, RP and the United Democratic Front (UDF) got one vote each.

The Presidential results from Mweshipandeka could not be obtained at the time of going to press yesterday.

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) regional officials at Oshana, Omusati and Oshikoto told New Era last night that counting was in full swing at some polling stations, while the process of verification of votes was equally underway at central constituency verification centres.

Some parties and several quarters of the electorate appeared impatient at the virtual delay of results yesterday, but senior ECN officials fingered tendered votes as the main source of delay. Tendered votes are votes of individuals who cast their vote in other constituencies other than where they usually reside.

At Uukwangula polling station in Oshana, for instance, the ECN said the delays mainly stemmed from the fact that some of the polling stations in the constituency are remote and delivering the results to the verification centre required time.

The regional coordinators of Oshana, Omusati and Oshikoto all told New Era last night that verifications have started at all constituencies and results are likely to be announced today.

**4_sure** · 30th November 2009, 01:01 PM

i am not happy with this delay up to now

**Comrade007** · 30th November 2009, 01:08 PM

Me neither, although it's probably better if the counting and verification process is done thoroughly and accurately the first time around and the results that are published have integrity. Saves everyone from lengthy and costly court processes. I suppose the counting process is an arduous one, so let us not be too quick to judge....

Unregistered · 30th November 2009, 01:08 PM

New era. Swapo newspaper how could you make such statement if results are not yet out. You are too scared ...............

**Mie1** · 30th November 2009, 02:08 PM

Dear unregistered,

Can we please refrain from personal attacks? This may be a fine point, but "Namibia Today" is the SWAPO newspaper; New Era is a government newspaper and, according to several objective sources, is doing pretty well as a newspaper that promotes government issues, but still stays credible and, mostly, unbiased!