BY MENGESHA AMARE
Ethiopia has now been witnessed well committed more than ever before to open a new chapter in its history. Even contestant parties who have never uttered a word about the positive move of the country for the last close to thirty years have now started talking about the promising steps the government has introduced for two plus years ranging from making the political field much wider to creating an independent, scholarly led and impartial election institution in which all sorts of political parties believe.
This piece tries to single out what is expected of whom they have to be booked to play in the field in one way or another—plainly all aged citizens of the nation with a special emphasis on those entitled to act as stipulated in the constitution, Art. 38 (1) (b) On the attainment of 18 years of age, to vote in accordance with law: (c) stating ‘To vote and to be elected at periodic elections to any office at any level of government; elections shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot.
Obviously, elections are composite processes on which the fate of a nation highly depend especially those which are committed to travel on a democratic avenue.
What is expected of every actor should be well treated and scrupulously perceived.
The government
The government is not a single body that administers a separate entity as it is a whole sum of the general public, the ruling party contestant parties and the entire citizenry. Hence, what is expected of the government is adjusting the peace and security aspects by which all members of the country are confidently safeguarded and equally treated. So long as the election board purely belongs to the nation and the general public the government is not supposed to interfere and guide the institution where to go. As the government is a sunshade institution, everyone has the right to evenly request whenever a gap arises.
The ruling party
The ruling party couldn’t be interchangeably employed as with the term ‘the government,’ though they have highly linked as all officials of the government are born to the ruling party, but not necessarily since there are fellow citizens serving their country and their people without any political affiliation.
As a single player in field, it has to fortify itself and build the capacity of its members to well pronounce their party’s manifestoes and guiding principles. However, some are heard of amalgamating the ‘ruling party’ to the concept of the ‘government,’ but not correct in a democratic country. Of course, the way we have journeyed so far might lead us to say so. Of course, the ruling party has to play lion’s share in making the election peaceful and credible than anyone else as it can legally act and comprise decisive security forces and other determinants.
Contesting parties
These are elements of a set—the country—which can be watchdogs that can single out the drawbacks of the existing government and propose what should have been done using the channel. In the context of our country, most contestant parties have developed a pessimistic sentiment. However, so long as they are working for the prosperity of the same nation and the wellbeing of the same people, they have to constructively forward idea. Of course, hopes rising now, particularly after a recent reform as the majority of the contestant parties are working for the common good—public safety, country prosperity. As being oppositions doesn’t mean that being foes of the nation and people, they have to understand that they can play a remarkable role in stabilizing the country for any unsatisfied segment of the nation and unemployed youth can be easily provoked by them. In simple terms, opposition political parties, to genuinely call them ‘contestant parties,’ are part and parcel of the political scenario because the next turn for national admin falls on them as good luck would have it.
Hence, these bodies have to work in collaboration with their candidates, members, supporters and like-minded ones to come up with a peaceful election thereby building a democratic and stable nation.
The electorate
Unequivocally, every vote counts! These are people entitled to vote or the general society aged to elect representatives comprising all sorts of community under the umbrella of the Ethiopian nationality.
Apart from their potential to help the country shift from repressive regime to a more democratic one, the electorates should place due emphasis to transformation, not transition.
These segments of the population are of significantly useful in coming up with inclusive and the credible electoral process and assisting political parties to overcome disagreements.
They are also prime actors in determining the value of elections as part of a broader political framework that promotes good governance, the rule of law, and equal participation in politics.
The electorates have to sieve the seed from the chaff, the truth from the falsehood fabrication, the endearing from the hatred politics, in which hidden agendum is hit instead of blowing to the direction an artificial wind kicks in the teeth. Everyone, here, has to exhaustively exploit their respective cards as they purely determine who will go to offices.
Civil society organizations
These are impartial, non-religious, non-political and neutrally moving bodies. Civil societies do, however, have a role to play in reducing election-related conflict dynamics and promoting a peaceful electoral environment. The role of civil society in elections often takes the form of assistance for the institutional processes of a democratic election as well as the more functional development of a democratic electorate.
The fact that they consist of members of local civil society organizations who are well known to voters in the constituent gives them high levels of trust and legitimacy among stakeholders across the board – valuable qualities in a peace building process. Their nonaligned status also allows them to bring stakeholders together with a common purpose—bridging differences that may cause conflict.
Yes, a robust civil society coupled with a sound public administration an independent judiciary can help manage the underlying tensions and grievances that elections bring to the surface.
The media
Independent media has to be well consolidated. Regardless of content or context, there are basic standards for journalistic integrity including accuracy—demanding rigorous journalism supported by fact checking, balance and well-sourced material as well as appropriate set of records to support the story.
Media should produce information sieving fact from opinion following impartiality principles.
The media, be they are print, broadcast or social ones, have to be fair. Fairness—is treating subjects honestly and in a transparent manner. Balanced reporting also clearly and impartially provides the public with news or information so that the public is able to draw their own conclusions and make informed decisions.
The role of journalists is particularly central during the election process as the media is the primary catalyst for these dynamics.
The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE)
NEBE, as an independent and neutral board for running fair, free, credible and democratic elections, it is expected to make conditions conductive and make the political landscape widen to help all political parties evenly participate in playing.
Obviously, election management body should be impartial and competent, and hug transparency and inclusivity in its composition and mandate.
Elections have to be managed by an objective, credible and responsible manner not repeating the mishaps in the past.
Unquestionably, electoral processes can be divided into three key chapters—pre-voting, voting, and post-voting. In the pre-voting level, electoral frameworks may be developed or refined. Boundaries are defined to ascertain voter eligibility. Here, voter and civic education, voter registration, party nominations, and electoral campaigns also take place.
During voting—In addition to the forming of votes, this stage also includes vote counting and result verification.
Post-voting—the post-voting period includes all of the activities that ideally occur between elections. This stage must be well eyed at for all the inevitable aspects happen.
The Security Forces
These are assets of only the nation and the public without any discrimination. As learnt from experience, elections remain main triggers of violence and insecurity in Ethiopia, and security forces like police, military, defense do play a key role in making electoral processes peaceful. The debate continues about how to provide security during electoral processes, and how to make sure that the involvement of the security forces does allow for free and fair elections.
Free and fair and well-managed elections, responsible political leaders and inclusive democratic systems will hopefully set an end to this trend and will reduce the role that security forces have to play during electoral processes.
The general public
Ethiopians have been experiencing five regular elections since 1991, but increasingly, all Ethiopians have been losing trust in the previous administration’s ability to run the country, and they are making different political choices.
This increases the influence of other parties dramatically and will have an impact on Ethiopia’s future governance. The 10 different regional states are spatial hubs for culturally and linguistically distinct citizens.
As Ethiopia is relatively new to democracy as it is going to hold multiparty and legislative elections in 2021, all walks of life has to actively participate in elections. It had been a one party state since 1991, if truth be told. True, all are looking forward to seeing a democratic country with a multiparty-oriented parliament.
The Ethiopian Herald February 17/2021
