* Politicians welcome NEBE’s new Chairperson
A consolidated electoral reform can be realized through institution capable of carrying out its main functions in an orderly, predictable, and legal manner, Politicians stressed.
In the light of the new leadership, the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) will surely play its significant role of strengthening the country’s democratic system, they hoped for.
Leader of Arbegnoch Ginbot 7 Prof. Berhanu Nega tells The Ethiopian Herald that all competing political parties should contribute for the ongoing institutional reform of the NEBE, not only for the sake of competition, but they must believe in the outcome that will fetch real change in the political system.
According to him, the appointment of Bertukan Medeksa as the Chairperson of the NEBE is a good start in the making of a true democratic election in this country.
“The major thing that the incumbent must do is building trust about the institution. Every individual must believe that the institution is subjected to carry out free, fair and democratic election.”
Prof. Berhanu also said that nothing will be left for the chairperson; the institutional reform must be supported by the people and all political parties.
Since the duty demands noncompliance for individual interest and the chairperson had ample experience in facing such challenges, she has the quality to efficiently run the institution bestowed in the Constitution, he adds.
As an intimate previous colleague, Prof. Berhanu perceived that Bertukan has tangible knowledge and capability to execute the mandates and responsibilities of the institution, and she could identify where shall the problems be existed and how to addressed them.
Though Bertukan came from the academy of law and sacrificed for justice for long, she could surely stand for protecting the rule of law, and creating the platform in political system.
As leaders of such democratic institutions need to have tangible knowledge and experience, Bertukan hopefully accumulated efficient skills both in our country and abroad to identify and address unlawful activities, Prof. Berhanu believes.
Apart from her fitness to the position, Bertukan has been neutral from membership of any political party for the last four or five years. So that, she can develop her firm determination to face challenges that requires managing sound arguments and dialogues, Prof. Berhanu expects.
Leader of the Oromo People’s Congress (OPC) Prof. Merara Gudina also says that the final outcome of NEBE’s institutional reform must be creating common ground both for government and competing political parties.
Although it is not easy way to restructure the leadership with those who have the ability and experience, the structure must go through from top to bottom levels, Prof. Merara remarks.
As to him, the new Chairwoman of NEBE is efficient to build trust on the institution and to govern free and fair election.
Since she has good deliberation in the political spectrum, her attempt to manage regulations and implementation is advisable compared with the previous chairmanship.
At this instant, the ball is in the ruling party’s court which has the mandate to execute fair and democratic election.
It was not far that the Electoral Board was considered as one of the institutions that lose trust among peoples with regard to executing true democratic election.
To make the institution trustworthy among the people, competing Political Parties must also contribute their part in creating conducive political landscape that relies on national consensus other than provoking conflict and chaos, Prof. Merara cautions.
The government has to give guarantee to ensure peace and stability, as well as carry on complete reformation of other democratic institutions.
Political Parties should rather build the politics of tolerance and respect ideological differences among them so as to shape a tangible democratic change in this country, he comments.
A political scholar at Addis Ababa University Wosenseged Asefa for his part says the primary purpose of the appointment of a neutral Chairperson for NEBE is to establish and maintain order, and achieve a task that cannot be divorced from the use of rule of law.
Bertukan’s appointment as Chairmanship is based on legitimacy, which is largely based on effectiveness. The institution, she is going to lead; will achieve fair, frequent, and open elections, he wishes.
The Institution has to apply the voting laws and act impartially in the election process and its outcomes, Wosenseged conveys.
According to him, this is the time to harmonize democratic institutions for the development of true democratic system.
It is urgent to examine the internal structure, standards and desires of the Electoral Board, with the intention of paving a genuine democratic path, Wosenseged vows.
(EPA)
BY ZELALEM GIRMA
