Voter education key to true democracy

 The Electoral Commission of Zambia has started conducting voter education in readiness for this year's Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government elections. The public voter education campaigns are undertaken in recognition of the fact that a critical measure of any election's legitimacy is dependent on how adequate the electorate are informed about the voter rights and obligations. Our Reporter, DANIEL NYAU, looks at the significance of this exercise and the expectations by the participating stakeholders.

ONE of the challenges of building the democratic dispensation in the country, is that more often than not, the general populace, especially the majority voters, are not familiar with their rights and responsibilities during an election period.

It is no secret that the post 1991 period has, however, slowly seen several civic organisations and government departments such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), taking up the role of assisting in building a new institutional base in response to the growing demand for the country's desire for multi-party democracy.

It is no surprise, therefore, that the ECZ has taken upon itself to consolidate this demand by way of holding seminars in voter education as it is vital since civic matters are amenable to education and general awareness.

During the opening of the orientation and planning seminar for district voter education committees in Kitwe recently, the ECZ said the voter education campaign which will be on-going, will help to set the stage for free, fair and genuine elections later this year.

So far, Kitwe and Livingstone districts have been covered while other districts have also been ear-marked for this exercise.

There are also concerns as to whether or not the election campaigns by the participating parties will display political window dressing.

Other concerns are about educating the electorate to ensure they requested the participating political parties and candidates to sell their manifestoes, policies and programme so as to give them an opportunity to gauge the contenders.

Stakeholders have been calling upon political players to take the lead in issues such as how they intend to fight poverty, unemployment, what are the gains of the Kwacha strength against major convertible currencies.

The stakeholders feel the current situation where political parties were concentrating on quarreling in the press does not inspire as many voters as possible to elect quality leaders.

In the recent past, newspapers have carried screaming headlines of politicians engaging in mudslinging and character assassination.

The Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has welcomed the move by ECZ to form district voter education committees which will spearhead the voter education campaigns in their respective districts.

AVAP executive director Bonnie Tembo said that although the idea was welcome his civic organisation was worried with time.

"The idea is welcome but they need to speed up the process of implementing the programme because time is running out.  We say so because if the process of educating voters is extended during the political campaigns it will be misunderstood," Mr Tembo said.

He urged the district voter education committees to reach every corner of their respective territories to ensure that this year's elections are characterised by a massive turn-out.

He said there were few Zambians who have access to television, radio and newspapers hence the need for physical interaction with the electorate through the committees.

AVAP also contends that the sensitisation campaign would only be successful if the committees were adequately funded and had reliable transport that would take them to far-flung places.

Mr Tembo said that offices for the town clerks and council secretaries must be utilised to the fullest for the benefit of the success of the voter education awareness.

A dispatch from the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) says the voter education and awareness programme is aimed at adequately informing and educating the electorate about voters rights and obligations, dates where necessary and procedures of the elections, the range of options from which voters can choose, the qualities of committed leaders and the significance of making right choices.

FODEP is one of the key local civic organisations that have been involved in monitoring the elections.

ECZ commissioner, Grace Mulapesi recently said that her organisation was committed to providing voter education in support of this year's elections.

Ms Mulapesi said voter education played a key role in contributing to free and fair elections.

She said the Electoral Bill, which passed in parliament and awaiting Presidential assent, mandated the Commission to provide voter education in partnership with civil society organisations and other government departments.

The electorate have a duty to ensure that they do not only register as voters but they should move a step further by actually casting the vote during election time.

There are concerns that those who complain about a non-performing leadership in their localities should use the ballot to replace them with those they feel can deliver development.