By Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
The Southwest Regional Delegate of Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, Emmanuel Njang, has some explanations for the low figures registered in the Region, as the Biometric registration continues across the country. He is worried that potential voters in the rural areas of the Region have no National Identification Cards and the relevant documents. This and how prepared are they for the upcoming Senatorial Election constitute the focus of this exclusive interview.
Excerpts:
How is the Southwest Regional Delegation of ELECTIONS Cameroon faring?
Emmanuel Njang, Southwest Regional Delegate of ELECAM
We’re doing fine as we tackle two major operations we have in hand. The ongoing biometric registration and the Senatorial Election announced for April 14 2013 by the President of the Republic, Mr Paul Biya.
The ongoing biometric registration in the Southwest Region, how will describe the atmosphere?
It is a smooth process as I see. However, with the extension of the registration date, our population, who were teeming to be registered, have slummed. We’re fine-tuning our mobilisation campaigns to bring back the huge turn-out we have witnessed in recent weeks. We don’t want to get back to the embarrassment of people coming at the last minute to stretch out our workers and the biometric kits. We want to progressively register everybody till March 28, which is the new deadline.
Why is there this fluctuating attitude from the population as they pursue the registration exercise?
The people in the Southwest Region are always rushing for the last minute effort. This time, they should know that our machines register a particular number of voters a day. We don’t want to overload the machines. We’ve recorded about 6,000 voters already, so the machines are slow now. We are also spreading out the registration exercise to all nooks and crannies of the Region, to avoid last minute rushes. All our ELECAM branches are open and functional, let potential voters go there and register. The absence of the National Identity Cards from some citizens has also been a drawback to the registration process. We pray that the registration exercise will be boosted with the acquisition of ID Cards. We hope that the stakeholders in that domain will do their own bit.
At the last count of ELECAM registration activities across the country, the Southwest Region was at 40%, tailing the rest of the Regions. What happened?
Since those figures were announced, our registration figures have been thus; we’re closed to 280,000, which is a big step taken. That’s close to 45% of the registration figures. The reason of our lagging behind is that, the bulk of the population in the rural areas that we’re supposed to register don’t have ID cards. We’re unable to register many people in the rural areas. We’ve contacted the stakeholders in the chain; the police and the judicial officials, who are expected to issue the relevant documents to the population that will facilitate the acquisition of ID cards. We hope that in the weeks ahead that will be done, so that our figures will be increased. In the urban areas, I don’t have any explanation for the sudden drop in figures. I believe it is a matter of laxity. We started with a positive rhythm of registration and a week before February 28 2013, the initial deadline, turnout was massive.
How do you intend to move forward?
The GM of ELECAM has just sent us four new pick up vehicles to cover the rural areas. That will be done as soon as I receive information that ID cards are now available in those rural areas. Especially in areas like Ndian, Kupe Muanengouba, Manyu and Lebialem Divisions respectively. If the figures from the Southwest Region are low, the main problem is that of Lebialem, that’s the Division with the lowest registration rate. As of now Lebialem has registered only 21% of their target. That’s an explanation for the low figures in the Region.
From some of the police stations in the Southwest Region, we have reports of frequent shortage of films, so taking of snapshots for potential voters is absent. Are you aware of that? Can your office do something in that light to ameliorate the situation?
The decree setting up ELECAM has clearly, specified the duties of ELECAM. ELECAM has stakeholders that they work with. If it is a matter of security, then it is the administration that has to step in and ensure that ID cards are delivered. Identification of citizens is the judiciary, documents related to nationality are issued by the courts, these partners in elections are supposed to do their own share of the work. Our duty is to register; those who have the required ID and those qualified by age.
ELECAM is in the heart of electioneering in Cameroon, Senatorial Election is in the air, how ready is the Southwest Regional Delegation of ELECAM?
Senatorial Election is new in Cameroon and for the first time ELECAM will be handling the election. So, we’re living no stone unturned. We’re preparing hard to ensure that the election run properly. As of now, we’ve sent out lists of councillors to the various ELECAM branches and divisional branches for verification by candidates who are councillors in their respective constituencies. The last day of the submission of the candidatures was Thursday, March 7 2013. When that will be done, we will send the list with the corrections made to ELECAM head office in Yaoundé for voters’ cards to be printed and the electoral lists of that particular election. We’re set and looking forward to the candidates to submit their lists through their respective political parties.
Who’re those eligible to vote in this election?
The electoral code clearly, states that the voters are supposed to be 40 and above, must have an abode within the Region of residence, must be those who are not affected by the conditions of eligibility; that is those holding duty positions, which are incompatible to that of a Senator, they cannot be candidates.
Have you cases of members of the electoral college of the Senatorial Election, who have lost their rights to vote?
Since we’ve not yet received the lists from the field, we do not know. There were a few omissions and corrections in terms of sex that is what I know. As regards losing their ability to vote, we do not yet have that. At the close of the exercise we will know who were disqualified either for their criminal acts or something else.
What are your expectations from the political parties and individuals involved in this election?
The political parties should do their best and select the best candidates. We’re reminding them that each political party is expected to submit fourteen names; seven substantive members and seven alternate members. Each list must have fourteen names.
How will the polling stations be set on April 14 2013?
The polling centres will be set at the Divisional Headquarters. Each polling centre will have one or more polling stations. We’re waiting for the decision from the GM of ELECAM that will clearly spell out the number of polling centres in the Divisions.
Members of the Electoral College are due FCFA 50,000 after the election, ELECAM has been charged to give out that money, how will it be done?
We don’t have clear directives on how that will be done. But I know the money will be disbursed by the GM of ELECAM and sent to the Regions.
As we build up to April 14 2013, what’s your message to Cameroonians who are observing the developments?
The political parties should do their own part of the work by selecting credible and upright Cameroonians who will be representing the population in the Senate. We’re appealing to the Electoral College to vote those they think can call the shots. The Electoral College should be ready to turn out massively on April 14 2013, the day of the Senatorial Election. For my people in the Southwest Region, we are actors in the political game. We should do our best and ensure that we’re not left behind; either in the registration process, the electoral process or in the selection of candidates. Let those who have been called upon to serve this nation, do it well.
