Voter registration picks up in W. Equatoria’s Maridi County
By Richard Ruati
November 26, 2009 (YAMBIO) – The ongoing crucial Voter Registration has taken peak in Maridi few days after the National Election Commission (NEC) extended the initial end date of November 30th to December 7th 2009.
Maridi County is 85 miles from Yambio, the capital of Western Equatoria State, en-route to Yei. Maridi County has four Geographical constituencies and sixteen registration centers.
The Commissioner of Maridi County, Mr. Mathias Onzi expressed his happiness about the high turnout of voter registration progress in Maridi.
Mathias pointed out that, “Maridi County is participating fully in the registration exercise as positive outcome of clear mobilization and awareness of the voter registration process.”
Although the registration exercise is moving on well in Maridi, the Commissioner expressed concerns over challenges, which some of the Payams in around Maridi are facing. He explained that, “Kuze is one of the Payams of Maridi county which is 72 miles away from Maridi centre, considering the bad condition of roads in Maridi; delivering reports in time has become a big task, lack of communication tools is hindering 100% Voter registration exercise at Kuze Payam”.
He called upon the State Government to provide the Kuze, Gamunde, and Lagua areas with Satellite phones, to enhance immediate report delivery to county registration office and State Headquarter in time, rather than two to three days which is insufficient.
The Commissioner expressed optimism of better and successful Voter Registration result in Maridi County.
Despite initial hardships, the process had been going well, County officials in Maridi area said. “We are working to conduct a smooth and proper voter registration process in the state,” Clement Baime, the Executive Director concurred via telephone hookup from Maridi.
Regardless of hurdles, the voter registration process has been welcomed by citizens looking for democratic transformation.
Voter registration kicked off on 1 November across Sudan in preparation for national elections next April, but officials and voters say the population has been ill informed about the process.
Registration, administered by the National Elections Commission (NEC), takes place at centers based on constituencies for one month. Many centers received lower numbers of people than expected, although there has been a slow increase in numbers as the process went on.
(ST)