Justicia Shipena
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in the Zambezi Region still needs 73 vehicles to meet its transport requirements for the upcoming regional and local authority elections.
This comes as last month, the ECN announced plans to hire more than 5 000 privately owned vehicles for use during the 26 November election.
The highest number of vehicles, 716, will be needed in the Ohangwena region, followed by Omusati with 689 and Oshikoto with 520.
In the other eleven regions, the ECN plans to hire 174 vehicles in Hardap, 276 in Khomas, 277 in Omaheke, 326 in Otjozondjupa, 327 in Kavango West, 329 in Kavango East, 230 in Erongo, 330 in Oshana, 239 in ||Karas, 351 in Kunene, and 389 in Zambezi.
Judea Lyaboloma Constituency returning officer, Habasiyani Liyuba, said that of the 327 vehicles required for election duties, 254 have already been secured, leaving a shortfall of 73.
He urged the public to assist by providing vehicles that meet ECN standards.
Liyuba said the ECN will now accept vehicles manufactured from 2015 onwards, subject to inspection.
“Vehicles owned by political candidates may also be hired if they meet ECN standards and display no branding or stickers of a political party,” he said during a stakeholder engagement held in Katima Mulilo this week.
The meeting brought together the 10 returning officers appointed to oversee operations in the region’s eight constituencies, as well as the Bukalo Village Council and Katima Mulilo Town Council.
He added that uninsured vehicles will be required to complete an indemnity form before use.
The meeting revealed that preparations are progressing well, with appointed officers providing updates on staffing, logistics, training, and polling stations.
As part of its readiness plan, the ECN will train 1 038 election officials from 7 to 15 November 2025.
The process will be supported by 346 police officers, party agents, eight verifiers, and 16 IT technicians. The ECN said it aims to deliver a transparent, efficient, and credible election process across the Zambezi region.
Last week, the ECN called on members of the public to make their vehicles available for election use. In a public notice, the commission said the request forms part of logistical preparations to ensure the smooth and efficient transport of election materials, officials, and staff across the country.
Eligible vehicles must be no more than 10 years old and should be single- or double-cab 2×4 or 4×4 bakkies fitted with a canopy. All vehicles must be roadworthy, have tyres less than five years old, and must not display any political, religious, or commercial stickers or slogans.
In the same week, the ECN in Omusati urged the public to help provide vehicles for the election, as the commission currently has only 286 registered private vehicles, far fewer than the 689 needed to ensure smooth operations across the region. This results in a shortage of 403 vehicles.
The ECN used 1 306 vehicles from private owners across the country for the supplementary registration of voters held from 4 to 19 August 2025.
In 2019, the ECN also reported a shortage of vehicles ahead of the Presidential and National Assembly elections and invited the public in Khomas to make their vehicles available for rental.
