Unemployed youth from Mariental and surrounding areas in the Hardap Region have gathered at the town’s Perisian Hall where Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) officials are conducting training for polling officers. The youth are accusing the region's ECN representatives of side-stepping them during the recruitment process. “The training started yesterday and there are many people who did not show up, yet, they call people from other towns to come and attend the training,” said one youth. “We are genuinely unemployed but the officials are selecting people who are already employed to fill the gap of those who did not show up,” another said. Allegations of nepotism and favouritism for vacant positions were also hurled. The youth have been at the going to the venue since the training for the polling officials started on Wednesday and vow to continue until the last day of training. Hilcardo Khulman, who is among the returning officers conducting the training, while dismissing all allegations, says the appointment of polling officials is not handled at the regional level. “Those appointments are done at the head office, we only receive the list with names, if a successful applicant does not show up, we select the next person on the list,” says Khulman.