We want observers now

For us, the referendum requires the scrutiny of observers, more so as it is going to provide lessons and indicators regarding the coming general elections. It would have been desirable to deliberate on the modalities of inviting observers even before the referendum date was agreed on, and they should be on the ground by now.

However, even looking beyond the referendum, it is essential to invite the observers—local, regional and international—now. The overall role of observers as we understand it is to note and assess electoral trends and make timely recommendations to those in charge of the process.

As we speak, many patterns that would negatively determine the outcome of the elections are unfolding, loudest among them the on-going police crackdown on civil society and members of some political parties.

We have helped supply to the public in recent weeks a number of reports about senior members of the army fraudulently helping soldiers and their relatives register to vote, while a significant portion of the voting population is being turned away from voter registration centres. There is massive vote-buying by aspiring candidates and pockets of intimidation and violence, in addition to the voters’ roll remaining shambolic.

These are things we would have wanted observers to take note of.

It would be an exercise in futility for observers to come in a week or so before the elections are held, as they would have missed out on many occurrences that directly determine the outcome of the polls.

Rigging, for instance, does not occur on voting day, but starts way before. Observers arriving on the eve of the elections are likely to be hamstrung because they lack the context in which actual polling would take place. For instance, they may note that there is voter apathy, yet the environment at the polling booths is quiet. While this might have been caused by prior violence and intimidation, the observers might come up with different conclusions.