It is good that they (IEBC) look like they are taking some action.
It is good they are barking because they have been sleeping on the job.
Basically, the idea is that the IEBC is the body in charge of elections. Remember that the IEBC is an independent authority. It is not supposed to be on the side of the government or the opposition; it is a non-partisan agency.
Therefore, when it sets up an election and announces that there is going to be an election in a certain area, it needs to ensure that there is a level playing field for everyone participating.
It is not as though we do not have laws. We have laws in this country on campaign financing. For instance, we have the Campaign Financing Act, 2013. The law already sets out what can be considered legal and illegal sources of money.
We have not had regulations to properly operationalise it, but the fact that people, especially those in government, are using government resources to dish out items to voters is creating an obvious bias.
The IEBC has every power, and we have asked it to act. In fact, this is the first time I have ever heard the IEBC use those kinds of words about postponing an election.
It has every power to stop a by-election if it believes the environment is not conducive to the conduct of a proper election.
If there are sufficient reasons, or if the process is skewed in favour of one candidate or another, that can justify stopping an election.
If there is violence that could disenfranchise people or prevent them from coming out to vote or participating freely in an election, that too can justify stopping an election.
There are circumstances in which the IEBC can say these elections are not tenable under the current environment and, therefore, we are going to delay them until a suitable environment exists.
Secondly, it should take action against those who are flouting the law because monies are being used to prepare for the election. If the election is deferred, that also means extra costs will be incurred by the commission itself.
The
national and regional Coordinator Elections Observation Group (Elog) spoke to the Star
