Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Democracy Works Foundation (DWF) is equipping political parties with tools of the trade to prepare for the elections scheduled for later this year.
The three-day training that started today will end on Friday. The training is conducted for all political parties registered with the Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC). DWF observes that:
Elections give voice to the political will of the people. The right to take part in the government directly or through freely chosen representatives is
also enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 21.1) and the International Covenant on Civic and Political Rights (article 25). ”
The DWF Regional Director and Southern Africa Political Parties and Dialogue (SAPP & D) Programme’s Chief of Party Dr Augustine Magolowondo said the training is born
out of undertaking assessments of the status of politics in Lesotho. He said DWF works closely with the electoral management bodies within the Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC) region. He said the cost of losing “is too high” adding that such loss could be a do or die for the political parties. Dr Magolowondo further mentioned that the DWF is facilitating political dialogue, a move which he argued promotes the culture of accountability and transparency. The DWF Regional
Director and Southern Africa Political Parties and Dialogue (SAPP & D) Programme’s Chief of Party said when capacitated the political parties will “respond more effectively to the needs of the society”.
“We know that democracy can be seen as a way of government that is firmly rooted in the way that people in any society should be free to determine their own economic, social and cultural system. Democracy, therefore, puts emphasis on and revolves around the will of many; the will of people shall be the basis for the authority of government within a democracy [dispensation],” he said. He said elections
must be periodic and genuine, adding that they are the “central institution of democratic government”. For his part, the IEC Chairperson Mphasa Mokhochane urged participants to take advantage of these three
days. IEC Chairperson said elections are processes guided by the legal frameworks. Mokhochane also told the participants that elections are neither a voting day nor an event but
a process. “Political parties should know their rights, voters should know their rights and the Commission should do its work properly,” he said. One of the
participants representing All Basotho Convention (ABC) Chairperson of the Women’s League ‘Makarabo ‘Malelaka Malakane said they want to leave the training with
knowledge that IEC is well prepared to administer the elections and had made means to allow full participation of every Mosotho in and outside the country to cast their votes. She said they anticipate free and fair elections, as a result, the participation of Basotho in the diaspora is critical. She further stressed that if IEC can ensure their participation, this will improve the voter turnout saying that elections are inclusive. Post the training, Malakane said the skills gained will come in handy for her party, adding that she will encourage more voters to participate in the elections by going out to vote. There are 53 registered political parties with the IEC and this number will increase as there are those that are currently undergoing the registration process.
After the dissolution of the 10th parliament in July, it is expected that the date for polls will be announced by the King on the advice of the Council of State.
The law tasks the Commission with registering new voters who will be 18 years at the time of polls and it is given seven day window period to undertake this
exercise. The IEC Civic and Voter Education Manager Lydia Macheli said the Commission is confronted with challenges ranging from an increase of political parties; to failure of re-registration and declining and low voter turnout. She also cautioned that there is a no harmonized National Assembly and Local Government elections Bill to guide and regulate administering of these elections in the event. They are held simultaneously as contemplated previously by the parliament.
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