South Africa's drive to register Namibians to vote in general elections has met with considerable resistance. The registration exercise, which got under way at the end of June and is due to continue until 22 September, has been condemned by, among others, the United Nations Secretary General, the five Western powers and SWAPO, as a unilateral and therefore provocative move on South Africa's part, made without reference to international settlement negotiations. Quite apart from the invalidity of the whole exercise in this broad sense, there appear to be serious defects in the procedures being followed by the South African authorities.
According to official sources, more than 77% of all prospective voters in Namibia had registered as such by the second week in August. In Windhoek, Namaland, Kavango and Hereroland the figure was 80%, while in Caprivi, where the campaign was delayed by heavy rains and flooding, it was 40%. Anyone who is at least 18 years of age and was either born in Namibia or has lived in the territory for at least four years, is technically eligible to vote.
Critics have pointed out, however, that because of the absence of border posts on the South African-Namibian border, and hence the lack of official records, there is no simple way of proving that a person has lived in Namibia for the statutory four years. White South Africans, such as the many civil servants resident in Namibia but with no real stake in its future, could, in the view of the Windhoek Advertiser, be "sneaked into this country to swell the number of voters".
Another weakness is that persons who are unable to sign their names are required for purposes of registration to make a thumbprint instead - suggesting, when the time comes to vote, that a fingerprint expert will be needed at every polling booth to identify voters. This difficulty could presumably have been avoided by incorporating a photograph of the holder on each registration card.
Other defects pointed out by SWAPO include: * Black Namibians born in Walvis Bay, claimed as part of South Africa, are denied the right to vote. * The size of the population has not been adequately determined - casting doubt on South Africa's claim that 77% of those eligible have voted. Registration should in SWAPO's view be preceded by a national census. * White employers, the police, the SADF and officials of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance are allegedly exacting pressure on the population to register. * Registration receipts have allegedly become passports to jobs and medical treatments.
A number of arrests have been made by the authorities in connection with the registration process. Windows at the registration office in the Ovambo section of the black township of Katutura have been smashed, and an attempt to remove registration certificates from the magistrate's buildings in Rehoboth has also been reported.
