Let’s Ponder On This
Afollowing the reports on the ongoing civic and voter education exercise conducted by the country’s Electoral Management body, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC), one could not help but wonder if any of the submissions made by the electorate matter to the EBC.
The whole purpose for a civic education is to encourage the electorate to participate in the elections and also educate on the process of elections. This should entails educating the electorate on the advantages of participating in the electoral purpose and also clearly define the roles of those to be elected into the elective positions. It is also expected that concerns of the electorate be taken seriously by the EBC and ensure that these are attended to expeditiously to ensure that the elections are worthy to be christened by the observers as ‘transparent, and free and fair.’
I am not going to ask if the EBC deems it appropriate to do the ‘quick and dirty’ exercise, which is supposed to be civic education a month before the elections begin. I doubt that the haste with which the exercise is carried out makes sense to the electorate anyways, save for the food that is served after every session. What confuses more is that as civic education continued or nears the end there are proposed amendments to the laws quoted by those conducting the exercise.
FTER AMENDMENTS
Talk about fixing an aircraft while flying it. When will the electorate to whom these amendments are directed have a say on them? Or even worse when will the common contributions from the civic education be incorporated to the amendments?
There are very salient issues raised by the people during the civic education that if not addressed adequately, will affect the forth coming elections. I am not going to sit here and be unfair to EBC as if it is the only institution that needs to deal with all that has been raised but at the same time if these concerns are not addressed, then the EBC will at one point be at the polling station without the electorate. Also, it is incumbent upon EBC to a conducive environment to ensure that the elect oral process is not only successful but also credible.
It seems like the national elections will commence without the delimitation report. This report is supposed to be made at least nine months before dissolution of Parliament, according to Section 91 of the Constitution which uses the word ‘shall’ making this mandatory.
As I write, the electorate may be informed a week before elections on where exactly will they be voting. The issue of delimitation process is a thorn in the flesh in some constituencies who are reportedly reluctant to even participate in the elections because the designated inkhundla is either far, their population quota has not been divided equally with neighbouring constituencies or inaccessibility of voting centres. Within proper delimitation and review of tinkhundla boundaries, the credibility of the process may be challenged, if not declared unconstitutional in some areas.
The power to recall non-delivering Members of Parliament (MPs) is another area of concern for the electorate. This proposition is a clear indication of lack of trust on the electoral process and the EBC should be worried if not embarrassed that the core mandate of its establishment is being viewed as ineffective by the people.
This may need collaboration with the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development to ensure that the electoral purpose resonates with issues of governance to regain the confidence of the people in the process.
The power to recall is a tenant of most democracies around the globe and the ‘five year one-way ticket’ does not resonate well with democratic elections. Imagine the electorate entering into an agreement with an MP for the latter to carry out a specific task, only for the MP to breach this agreement. It is only fair that after due process, which may be laid down in law, that particular MP should step aside.
The role of an MP, which the EBC seeks the electorate to elect, is still unknown to the electorate or rather the electorate does not see the value of the MPs. This I deduce from reports that the electorate has questioned the importance of participation in the elections.
To a certain extent, one may agree with them in that it is very rare, that is if it does happen, to hear that an MP has called the electorate to brief them on a Bill being considered in Parliament. I have never heard of contributions from an MP which directly comes from the people being represented. I am just thinking if all the legislators do understand all the laws they pass, but that is for another day.
Lastly, but equally important, is the rhetoric question reportedly asked by the electorate: Is the prevailing environment conducive to conduct the elections? Mainly, the recommendation raised here was the need for a social and political dialogue before the elections are held. This is also out of the hands of the EBC but as a body which has an advisory role to government on issues of elections, it should advise relevant stakeholders on the importance of this recommendation, unless of course the elections are not for the people.
CORRUPTION
Corruption and election-related crimes seem to bother and taint the work of the EBC if the submissions reportedly made are anything to go by. Unfortunately, unless it skips my mind, prosecution of these offences does not occur. Prosecution of electoral offences is key to legitimise the process and also demonstrate the seriousness of the process.
Similarly, though electoral disputes brought before the High Court are expeditiously adjudicated upon, judgments and reasons for decisions are slow to come, which harms the development of our electoral process
What harm will it do the EBC to clean their house, perfect the process and leave no one behind before conducting the elections? What informs the amendments being rushed through Parliament if it is not the people who will be casting their votes? It will be unfortunate if the elections will be ticking the box process rather than ensuring genuine process representing the will of emaSwati.
The people have spoken and they continue to speak to electoral issues which need attention but since we are now rushing against time to the elections the EBC iyabalalela kodwva ayibeva. One would be forgiven for assuming that because the electorate are the main role players in the electoral process, their grievances and questions should be attended and responded to promptly for a credible process.