Voter registration begins in Western Equatoria State

By Richard Ruati

November 4, 2009 (YAMBIO) — Despite prevailing insecurity in some parts of Western Equatoria State (WES) caused by the marauding Ugandan rebels and the rejection of the 2008 census results for WES and Constituency demarcation, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) launched its registration exercise of over 700,000 voters in Western Equatoria on Wednesday.

The four-week voter-registration process in the state capital city is the first step of the statewide registration Programme, which will extend to other counties in the next 30 days, starting with the Yambio and Nzara Counties, said Lawrence Sulubia, the chairman of the National Electoral Commission High Committee for Western Equatoria State. The enrolment of voters in the other counties of WES would follow.

Before the registration could take place, the state government took measures to enlighten the public of the importance of why to register as a future voter.

Voter registration for first of its kind General Presidential and Regional elections in 24 years should be well on the way in Western Equatoria State.

This registration process is seen as a landmark turning point in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which was signed in 2005.

However poor logistical situation is halting the smooth operation in the state, with complains that so many people until now in Western are not aware of the exercise has officially started 1st November 2009, given the three delay in Western Equatoria.

Dr. Ann Itto is the Deputy Secretary General of SPLM for the southern Sector, during a press conference in Juba she has referred to the registration process as “dead on arrival” because of improper logistics, no communications equipments working in all parts of southern Sudan, in the context of southern Sudan where there are networks, good road communications and public transport this is very unrealistic to expect this process to be completed by 30th November 2009.

Jemma Nunu Kumba is State Governor for Western Equatoria State, she was the first to be registered, and during an interview from the Registration officer to Jemma she identified herself as Jemma Nunu Tarira Kumba, as the registration requires four names.

During a brief interview conducted by Yambio FM Radio staff with the Governor Nunu, she said that, “I feel very excited because this is the first time am being registered as a voter in my entire life time.”

However there was low turn up in the three centers the Governor had visited with the cabinet convoy. The governor promised to take part in the elections so that she can exercise her democratic right of electing Presidents of Sudan and southern Sudan, and even the Governor for WES. Asked whether she will vote herself as governor, she said, if the people of WES choose her, she will contest.

Western Equatoria’s veteran politician Hon Richard Noti Runge was second in the registration queue, the current Speaker for WES’s Legislative Assembly said that, this process is not new to him, in his life time he had voted three times, this ongoing process is the forth time he is going to take part.

Mr. Sulubiia at that point appealed to the chiefs and community leaders to mobilize their citizens to turn in their good numbers to take part in the registration process.
According to Sulubia, Yambio centers are likely to score a record of thousands during the beginning process.

SUDAN’S ELECTION PARADOX

In April 2010, Sudan is scheduled to hold its first democratic elections in 24 years. General elections are required by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, or CPA, which ended a second civil conflict between northern and southern Sudan that lasted two decades, killed 2 million people, and displaced 4 million more. The original premise and promise of elections-democratic transformation, consolidating the peace, and making unity attractive-have been marred by the ruling National Congress Party’s four-year pattern of obstructionism, which has stalled progress on the implementation of the CPA, and sapped good will between North and south.

However experts on Sudan say the landscape in Sudan has changed in the four years since the CPA was signed, and the United States and key actors have to adjust their expectations for the elections and recalibrate their strategy to revive CPA implementation, The goal of international support should be an overarching peace for all of Sudan accompanied by a peaceful vote that helps create momentum and builds confidence for implementing the remaining major CPA provisions, particularly how to hold a credible self-determination referendum in the South.

(ST)