In an exclusive interview with Touch FM, Ueituaravi Heuva, the Returning Officer assigned to Foreign Missions, provided an update on the ongoing elections at Namibian diplomatic missions across the globe.

Voting commenced today at 07:00 in the respective countries with some exceptions for missions in New York, Washington, DC, Cuba, and Brazil, which are eight hours behind Namibia.

Heuva expressed satisfaction with the peaceful atmosphere surrounding the elections, stating, "The atmosphere is very peaceful, and no challenges are encountered so far." He emphasised that Namibians residing abroad are in good spirits and eager to exercise their democratic rights. Preliminary reports indicate a promising turnout, with the verification system operating smoothly and effectively.

Among the diplomatic missions, Cape Town in South Africa has emerged as a frontrunner, recording the highest number of votes cast. This is closely followed by Ondjiva in Angola, which has reported 50 votes so far. Other locations have seen participation levels of around 30 votes or less, with voting still ongoing until 21:00.

Heuva also shared insights from the recent General Registration of Voters (GRV) conducted from June 3 to August 1, 2024, which registered a total of 2,804 eligible voters across all 35 Namibian diplomatic missions. Cape Town led the registration efforts, with a notable 1,141 voters registered.

Importantly, the Returning Officer highlighted that any Namibian citizen holding a valid voter’s card can participate in the elections, regardless of their registered constituency. This means that Namibians who find themselves outside the country today can visit their respective missions and cast their votes.