BY SOLOMON DIBABA
A couple of days back the NEBE announced that it has issued permits for more than 30 CSOs whom it said are qualified to observe the 6th National Election which is just at the corner.
I therefore decided to share my views with my readers on this important issue. Incidentally, I also learned that women constitute more than half of the entire election observers in the country. Hopefully, the final election result could also be the same putting half of us into the HPR.
The first question is why should elections be observed as long as the NEBE is entitled to ensure that elections take place in accordance to the laws and regulations of the country? First of all, observing any election in this country by those who are legible is part of the democratic process in Ethiopia.
It also demonstrates the role played by the major elements of the political system in monitoring and evaluating the nature and conduct of elections at polling stations as provided by the law.
Observers represent the institution that has deployed them for observing election but they are also doing their job to contribute to the further development of the nascent democracy in Ethiopia.
During the imperial regime, elections were conducted with no need for observers whatsoever but during the totalitarian regime of the Derge, observers were limited to presiding over the elections at polling stations only pausing as witnesses with no need for reporting on their observations. They were expected only to put their signatures on the reports prepared by election executives at the polling stations as witnesses.
The process of recruiting observers in a democratic society passes through two stages including selection of qualified institutions among those who apply to observe elections and selection of qualified observers by those institutions that were selected to observe elections.
The task of observing elections may seem to be easy at face value but it is also an important and challenging task. This is so because observing an election presupposes a responsibility and national obligation that is to be taken very seriously.
Observing elections in Ethiopia requires a deeper knowledge of the electoral laws of the country, regulations, principles and guidelines issued by the NEBE. Adequate knowledge of the guidelines and regulations on the conduct of elections at polling stations enables observers to have knowledge based capacity to observe in a balanced manner.
Observing elections is also a learning process for each individual observer and for the institutions that have deployed their representatives. Besides, proper recording of the proceedings and reports regarding elections will provide a reference material on what it takes to observe any upcoming election and could later be converted as a case study in trainings on observing elections.
This implies that the NEBE will soon carry out a series of training programs for observers to equip them with the necessary knowledge on their role as observers.
Observers are in no way expected to be biased on the entire scenario at the polling stations and should refrain from interfering into the deliberations and routines in the election process. Observers may have their own political views as citizens but they are not supposed to pause as supporters of any of the competing political parties.
On the other hand, observing elections is a team work that needs to be well coordinated. This is important because any credible election observation report should be based evidences that cannot be contested at any point in time and circumstances.
Observers prepare their own reports on the entire progress of the election at polling stations conducted in an average of 12 hours based on the standards and indicators provided to them by the NEBE and their own informed framework of observations.
The fact that CSO will be engaged in observing the upcoming election is expected to broaden their participation in the political system and also enhance their capacity to promote good governance and democracy in the country.
Regrettably enough, the previous administration has been at loggerheads with CSOs simply because they were relatively independent institutions that were outside of the scope of the TPLF dominated administration.
What are the basic traits of reports to be prepared at the end of elections? To begin with election reports are useful as learning documents as they would help to add value to the inclusive, transparency and objectivity of the scope of their observations.
Election reports are neither political nor legal documents but are useful for streamlining the entire process of elections to create confidence on the rationality and democratic nature of the elections and are expected to reflect the general opinion on the nature of the elections at all levels.
The upcoming election will be conducted under the backdrop of the proliferation of ethnic conflicts and the resultant effects of TPLF’s heinous actions not only in Tigray but also in different parts of the country. It will be conducted under the maximum focus on peace and security of the country.
Observers need to be aware of these conditions and refrain from being judgmental and engage in blame shifting on issues far beyond their capacity as observers.
Observers need to clearly understand the socio-political and cultural settings of the peoples who come to the polling stations to practice their democratic rights as electors. They need to assess the period prior to the election date and how community members are reacting to the election.
Observers are not grievance takers but they may consider the objectivity and truthfulness of the content of grievances voiced by voters at polling stations without attempting to make any decisions outside of their mandates as observers.
Observing elections will help to enhance voter confidence on the credibility of the election and the election results thereof. Observers need to be free and fair in their deliberations and need to accomplish their duties in good faith.
Observers cannot be present at all the polling stations across the country and preparing sampling techniques and dividing their time of observation to reach as much polling stations as possible is very important.
Some reports on previous elections in the country have triggered unnecessary polemics, accusations and counter accusations between the representatives of observing parties and the previous ruling party. Such arguments between observing institutions and the government are basically counterproductive and may even affect future relations beyond the scope of observing elections.
I also recall that the previous administration has harassed and even arrested some prominent members of teams of observers creating an unnecessary havoc.
I hope that this would not be repeated again in the upcoming national election as it would tarnish the credibility of reports on the election and will also undermine the unity of purpose in conducting elections in Ethiopia.
As I have time and again stressed the upcoming election is a springboard from which the country can leapfrog into a higher level of democratic governance in Ethiopia.
It is critically important to provide all the necessary support for observers to upgrade their role in the promotion of a democratic political system in Ethiopia. However, nothing is to be expected on a red carpet as there is more to be desire over the coming couple of months.
The Ethiopian Herald March 24/2021
