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Archive -Election

National Assembly election 2016 - Election ‘credible, peaceful and transparent’ ‒ observers |13 September 2016

 

The international election observer mission which was in the country to observe the National Assembly election 2016 held from September 8-10, have described the election as “sufficiently free, credible, peaceful and transparent” though the Electoral Commission of Seychelles was faced with serious challenges to its credibility and good standing.

As they also observed certain issues that need to be improved on or put in place to better the process, they suggested various recommendations in that direction.

They also announced a post-election forum that will be held in a few weeks from now as a post-mortem of the recent National Assembly election and to discuss other related issues.

These were revealed in the preliminary statements from international observer missions from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Election Observer Mission (SEOM), the African Union Election Observer Mission (AUEOM) and the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC countries (ECF-SADC) at the Avani Hotel Barbarons yesterday.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr Augustine P. Mahiga (MP); of leaders and representatives of political parties who took part in the elections; members of the diplomatic corps; election stakeholders and the media.

The final report, which will address the broader aspects of the electoral process, including pre-election, election and post-election phases, will be released 30 days after the results have been officially announced.

The ECF-SADC mission also mentioned lessons learnt and some good practices during the process which was the peaceful and calm environment during the electoral period; inclusion of youth and women as polling staff and party agents; visible signage indicating the prohibition of cellphone use inside the polling station; taking an oath of allegiance to the Seychelles Constitution by polling staff and party agents ahead of polling.

Among the issues raised were the nature of voter education which it described as limited; the credibility of the voters’ register which they said is bloated with dead people and those living overseas; lack of confidence by the public in the EC; delayed accreditation process for observers both local and international; certain people taking photographs in polling stations; media more biased to party in power; the manner in which the election commissioners are appointed and the ballot boxes were not translucent as they suggested this before in previous elections.

All three missions made several recommendations that will improve the elections process so as to make it more credible.

The ECF-SADC mission led by Commissioner Bongani Finca, suggested certain issues directed to the EC itself for urgent attention and implementation. And one of that is the existence of an election management body (EMB) that is independent, impartial and enjoys the confidence of the citizens. The EMB must be a professional body that performs its statutory responsibilities transparently, efficiently and effectively so as to earn the confidence of all stakeholders, including political parties. And that the Republic of Seychelles considers reforming the EC structure and operations to make it more consistent with the good practice found in the election management bodies of the SADC region.

Regarding the civic and voter education, they suggested the EC, in collaboration with other electoral stakeholders, embark on an extensive voter education drive encompassing all aspects of the electoral process; the voters registration must be regularly updated, compiled accurately, transparently and inclusively and be made available to political parties in good time for verification; build into the electoral framework and reclaim the position of Seychelles as a leading light in women participation in the national and other legislative bodies and the EC to develop an adequate results system that minimises uncertainty and public suspicion, opened to the public to ensure acceptance of the results.

“The election observed represents an extraordinary accomplishment by the people of Seychelles to consolidate electoral democracy,” said the ECF-SADC mission.

They added that the Seychellois people’s dignity, tolerance and respect for electoral processes was an example of patriotic service to their constitution.

SEOM, led by head of mission Augustine Mahinga, suggested measures to improve confidence in the EC, civic voter education programme and regular revision of the voters’ register, voter registration cards for all registered voters, improve women representation and participation in decision-making and good governance referring mainly to the LDS representation in the new National Assembly where female members are not that visible; enhance the role and mandate of the Seychelles Media Commission and collaboration between them and the electoral commission; setting up of special tribunals and mediation bodies to adjudicate upon or mediate election-related disputes to relive pressure of the normal court procedures

“The historical outcome of this National Assembly election in the Republic of Seychelles is a testimony to the efficacy of multiparty democracy and yet another milestone in the SADC region’s progress,” said Dr Mahinga.

Apart from emphasising the issues and recommendations of the other two observer groups, the AU all-women mission stressed mainly on the need for more women representations in national bodies like the National Assembly.

The presentations ended with questions from the floor.

 

 

 

 

 

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