EAC told to harmonise electoral period

Jan 21, 2010

The East African Community should work towards harmonising the electoral period for member states to avoid paralysing the community’s operations.

By Josephine Maseruka

The East African Community should work towards harmonising the electoral period for member states to avoid paralysing the community’s operations.

The deputy secretary general in charge of political federation, Beatrice Kiraso, said: “The elections in different countries take place at different times and almost bring the work of the community to a standstill because the quorum of the meetings is the presence of all partner states.”

She made the disclosure in a statement released from Arusha recently.

Kiraso added that: “We may have to accommodate this nightmare until the time when a political federation is established because then there will be one East African Constitution.”

Burundi goes to the polls in June, while Rwanda and Tanzania will hold their elections in August and October respectively.

Uganda’s general elections will be held in 2011 and those for Kenya will be in 2012.

Kiraso made the remarks while commenting on the progress of the EAC Electoral Support Mission. The mission is composed of members of the electoral commissions from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. It is under the Forum of Electoral Commissions.

The EAC political affairs directorate is spearheading the development of a protocol on good governance. 

A key pillar in the Good Governance Protocol is prudent democratisation processes.

She noted that if the idea is endorsed, the community will put together a team of long-term observers for member states to ensure harmonisation and standardisation of election processes.

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