BY ADDISALEM MULAT
Relatively speaking, the U.S. is said to be one of the leading democracies in the world. Its democratic institutions are claimed to be largely autonomous and free. Being the largest economy in the world, U.S also considers itself as the guardian of democracy and the policeman of the world.
However, its liberal democracy is not without its shortcomings. From racism, populism to homegrown extremisms, America’s democracy has been increasingly under challenges over the years. The rise of Trump and Trumpism has in fact opened the Pandora’s Box.
His election led to the expansion far-right groups and anti-diversity sentiment, clashing with pro-democracy and black lives matter movements. Once known for its peaceful elections, the U.S.
also came to the spotlight when the then sitting president Donald Trump refused to officially concede defeat in the 2021 poll after losing to the current president Biden.
Trump’s refusal to concede in the defeat has also instigated violent reaction in the country and the disturbance reached crescendo when his supporters stormed the Capitol Hill which also saw the president impeached for the second time in charges of insurrection. US’ situation is a stark reminder that democracy and freedom coming under intense challenges.
The problem is much bigger in developing nations like Africans. Elections in the continent mostly end with tragedy than being a remedy. Seriously speaking, election-related chaos is one of the ingredients of African elections seeing that voters cling to power through the deception of constituents’ lists and other mischiefs.
Apart from that most elections turmoil in the continent comes to pass as a result of candidates who lost votes and fail to accept defeat. The other thing is most parties in Africa do not respect one another and -concede on elections.
Instead of giving their all in pursuance of catapulting their respective nations, they are seen moving their nations into uncharted territory.
During elections times’ as a culture, African governments shut down the internet, block social media, kill protestors, throw demonstrators into prison, and others with a focus on preventing election fraud.
While the stakes are high and the risks are too many, dozens of African countries including Ethiopia, South Africa, Somalia, Central African Republic, Madagascar Cote d’Ivoire, Chad, Morocco, and others are going to conduct national polls.
Particularly, the election in Ethiopia whose leaders has been criticized for being dictator and stifling freedom of speech and weakening democratic institution, the 5th general election is critical in many ways.
Having held five elections before, the country’s has bad refutation in conducting polls. Banning major opposition parties, the ruling was wining by landslide in the election which many said had been marred with rigging, and widespread fraud.
To the critics’ truth, the country was rocked by violent protests short after the ruling had declared a 100-percent win in the last election the result of which was the change in the leadership of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) that latter changed in to Prosperity Party.
The last time the country held a better election was the disputed 2015 poll. The election was the most momentous because quite a lot of people managed to partake in the elections.
Major political parties were allowed to participate in the poll while they had confronted the ruling in lection campaign. But unfortunately, the election had ended in tragic way calming the lives of over 200 Ethiopians though the exact number is still unknown.
The post-election violence and the government’s crackdown in protestors who refused to accept the disputed outcome had cut short the great beginning.
Now that the country is preparing to hold its 6th election, the expectations are high and the poll could have far-reaching impact in the next fate of the country and in the nascent democracy. In fact, many have enough reasons to be optimists of the upcoming poll.
The appointment of Birtukan Mideksa, former human right activist and opposition figure as head of the electoral board and the reforms being carried out in the democratic institutions have raised the hopes of the voters and other democratic organizations.
But again, the election is not without problems. Minor challenges could be witnessed at lower levels. But so far, the pre-election period has been peaceful and democratic.
In this regard, the role of media in making the poll peaceful, fair and free is very much important since media can be constructive or destructive.
Regarding the upcoming Ethiopian elections, Associate Prof. Mustafa Worku, Head of the Department of Journalism and Communications at the University of Gondar said, “The print and electronic media outlets of the country should play a leading role in widening the police scape of the country acting accordingly media ethics.
They should serve as a bridge between political parties and the broader public designed to meet the needs of the upcoming elections free and fair and make the dream of the population as a whole become a reality,”
In a similar vein, the media should prepare the stage for different political parties that enable them to familiarize their policies with the community as a whole. In addition to that, they should be neutral and play a role as the fourth estate to smooth the election process and catapult the nation to move on to the next chapter.
He went on to say, “In the olden days, media outlets were not neutral, and give prominence to the ruling party. In a nutshell, they were the ruling party’s watchdog.
The other thing is before disseminating information, journalists should cross-check facts to avoid fake news given that unreliable information could lead the country to chaos. They do not have to rush,”
As things stand at present, the number of social media users has been on the rise more than ever before. They are turning out to be the source of information for many people.
Against this background, journalists should pull out all the stops to stand by the side of the general public by identifying the credibility of sources. Likewise, the people of Ethiopia should get enough time to have enough information about the policies of different political parties.
He elucidated that by allocating enough time, the people should be made to get full information about the policies of political parties and their stances. As the time is short, the media should play a paramount role in familiarizing the policies of political parties to the general public.
Negussie Teffera, former investigative journalist said: “I would venture to say, the different elections that had been held across the country were not free, fair, credible, and democratic ones.
At that juncture, media outlets were not playing a leading role in discharging their duties and responsibilities as they should be. As the ruling party was the backseat driver, the elections were heartbreaking ones. They were full of drama,”
The ruling party had influenced the population as a whole negatively. To the best of my knowledge, elections become successful when everyone goes to the polling stations and set in motion casting a ballot.
Moreover, media outlets should play a paramount role in acquainting the whole population with credible information. While on the subject, this reality should be the rule of the game. It should be applicable everywhere.
“They do not have to be biased, but neutral. Furthermore, they should attach importance to things that add value to the elections. Adding to this, they do not have to instrument of others, and treat all parties fairly and equally,” he added.
“They should as well establish a strong Journalists Association that can monitor media reporting. In other countries establishing an editorial committee during the election is a well-known fact.
They check everything during the election and disseminate election-related facts. They should be very careful about what to say. They do not have to get themselves engaged over things that can take the country to chaos,”
Similarly, journalists should know their rights and obligations and act accordingly. Furthermore, they should stick to the rules and regulations of the national election board of Ethiopia, but if they fail to do that attaining the target will not be a walk in the park. They will darken the country’s future shortly.
“Social Media should distance themselves from sowing the seeds of hatred amid the people, and spreading false information. As this is a serious issue, they stick to the rules and regulations of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia,” he wrapped up.
The Ethiopian Herald February 26/2021
