Nquthu: parties, candidates must work for peace
THE logistical arrangements for an election are a crucial component of free and fair elections and the Electoral Commission has a vital role to play in ensuring everything is in place for a smooth election.
Among the essential components necessary for free and fair elections is an accurate and up-to-date voters roll which includes all eligible voters who are registered in the specific wards being contested – and excludes any voters who are not eligible to vote.
The voters roll is the foundation of electoral integrity and we are working hard to ensure it is as complete and accurate as possible.
But we must also be realistic about the extent to which this is feasible and possible in a developing country like ours, where many of our citizens live in rural areas and informal settlements.
As we constantly strive to improve the voters roll, we also need to remember to balance the fundamental rights of our citizens to participate and vote as we do so.
As joint stakeholders in democracy, we should all keep sight of the big picture, which is ensuring that the outcome of elections reflects the will of the voters.
Good planning, proper logistics and high-quality staff and training are necessary for free and fair elections. But, by themselves, they are insufficient for free and fair elections.
A second, and equally essential ingredient for free and fair elections, is a climate conducive to free campaigning in all areas, and to peaceful and impartial voting.
In this regard, on behalf of the Electoral Commission, we wish to express our concern over incidents of violence and intimidation which marred the run-up to the August municipal elections last year, and which have continued to have an impact on local government and by-elections, especially in Kwazulu-natal.
Democracy is about the will of the people – all of the people. It cannot and must not bend because of a few who seek to use violence, intimidation and other criminal acts to pervert the will of the people.
The August municipal elections were without doubt the most complex and contentious South Africa has seen in its 23 years of democracy.
In many respects, these elections signalled the transition from a relatively benign and co-operative system of electoral contest between political parties IEC CEO Mosotho Moepya briefs the media at the IEC National Results Operations Centre in Pretoria. and candidates to one in which every vote was fiercely contested and in which every process and aspect of the election was scrutinised closely.
There are a number of factors behind this maturing of electoral contest in our country. One is the narrowing of the gap between support for parties and candidates – and the 2016 municipal elections gave rise to the highest number of hung councils yet seen in South Africa.
Nowhere has this played out as obviously and unfortunately more dysfunctionally than here in Nquthu.
Coalitions are, by their nature, fraught with difficulty. But they are also about compromise and collaboration.
They are about putting aside political differences and working together for the common good of the people, not only for coalition partners but for all represented parties and candidates.
At the end of the day, it is the people of Nquthu who suffer when those they elected to lead cannot find common ground and put aside their differences.
Our people deserve efficient and effective government and our country cannot afford repeated elections.
The same goes for political campaigning ahead of elections.
This should be robust and passionate. It should also be accurate, to ensure an informed and knowledgeable electorate.
But political parties and opponents should be careful not to engage each other so aggressively so as to leave permanent scars and damage which continue to harm co-operation when working together in the future.
In our Zulu culture we have a tradition of stick-fighting. An important part of this is washing each other’s wounds after the fight. This helps to put the fight behind us and reunite us as a people.
Political opponents must adopt the same approach. Those who win must extend an olive branch and reconcile with those they defeat.
Compromise is at the heart of our transition as a country from apartheid to democracy 23 years ago. Working together remains a vital ingredient for growth and development in a country which remains highly unequal.
On behalf of the Electoral Commission, we call on all parties, candidates and stakeholders to work together, no matter the outcome of these by-elections, to put the interests and rights of the citizens of Nquthu first.
It is our prayer that all partners for peace and democracy in our country come together to protect and defend the hard-won rights we have achieved: the right to form political parties and stand for election; the right to campaign freely and without intimidation in all areas; the right to vote for your candidate or party without fear or favour. Let us never stop defending these rights.
Glen Mashinini is the chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission.