EC slow on referendum
Jul 11, 2005
GROUPS accredited to campaign in the referendum are bickering over money. In the ‘Yes’ side some members have been accused of misappropriating funds. The ‘No’ side is threatening to pull out over insufficient funding from Electoral Commission (EC).
GROUPS accredited to campaign in the referendum are bickering over money. In the ‘Yes’ side some members have been accused of misappropriating funds. The ‘No’ side is threatening to pull out over insufficient funding from Electoral Commission (EC).
The wrangles have delayed campaigns and civic education.
With only three weeks to polling day the population is largely ignorant about the referendum.
Most people, especially in rural areas, do not understand why they should go to vote and for what. EC should sort out money issues quickly so that campaigns can start immediately.
EC promised its own civic education to support the sides’ mobilisation drive but this is not forthcoming. Apart from Kakooza Mutale, nobody has addressed a rally or convened a meeting to discuss the referendum. Brief commercials in the media cannot be enough. EC needed to send representatives to train LCs who would in turn mobilise people in the villages.
Studies have shown that a big majority still wants the Movement system. Yet Government is pushing for multiparty politics.
Antipathy against parties and absence of any voice on the ‘Yes’ side to counter Mutale’s countrywide campaign may lead to embarrassing results.
The ‘No’ side may win. This would put Government in an awkward situation where it would either accept the Movement system to continue or overturn the people’s verdict and force multiparty system through. Neither option is ideal. The first option would be in conflict with international trends and donor demands. The second option would overturn the will of the people.
To avert such a scenario, EC and Government need to go out in full force and educate the population on why they should vote, later on for a particular side.
Lack of mobilisation means very few people will turn up to vote thus rendering the results contestable. In such case the system that follows the referendum would be illegitimate because only a small minority of registered voters would have chosen it.
The wrangles have delayed campaigns and civic education.
With only three weeks to polling day the population is largely ignorant about the referendum.
Most people, especially in rural areas, do not understand why they should go to vote and for what. EC should sort out money issues quickly so that campaigns can start immediately.
EC promised its own civic education to support the sides’ mobilisation drive but this is not forthcoming. Apart from Kakooza Mutale, nobody has addressed a rally or convened a meeting to discuss the referendum. Brief commercials in the media cannot be enough. EC needed to send representatives to train LCs who would in turn mobilise people in the villages.
Studies have shown that a big majority still wants the Movement system. Yet Government is pushing for multiparty politics.
Antipathy against parties and absence of any voice on the ‘Yes’ side to counter Mutale’s countrywide campaign may lead to embarrassing results.
The ‘No’ side may win. This would put Government in an awkward situation where it would either accept the Movement system to continue or overturn the people’s verdict and force multiparty system through. Neither option is ideal. The first option would be in conflict with international trends and donor demands. The second option would overturn the will of the people.
To avert such a scenario, EC and Government need to go out in full force and educate the population on why they should vote, later on for a particular side.
Lack of mobilisation means very few people will turn up to vote thus rendering the results contestable. In such case the system that follows the referendum would be illegitimate because only a small minority of registered voters would have chosen it.