By Nina Mitch
DRC : The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), announced on Wednesday, December 26th, the postponement of elections in Beni and Butembo constituencies in North Kivu and also in Yumbi constituency in Mai-Ndombe.
Eligible voters in these constituencies will have to wait patiently until March 2019 before they can cast their votes.
According to the electoral commission data, it is precisely 182,378 voters for the township of Beni, 670,816 for the territory of Beni, 328,136 voters for the city of Butembo and 66,270 for the territory of Yumbi in the Mai-Ndombe, who will not exercise their right to vote, the polls day.
In Yumbi, The Independent National Electoral Commission explains that all electoral materials and documents were burnt during the voilence recorded on the 14 and 15 of December. The Independent National Electoral Commission also stated that its facilities and warehouses were also looted.
Other reasons given by The Independent National Electoral Commission include the massive displacement of the population as a result of the disorder and persistence tension in this city.
The Commission also decried the situation in Beni and Butembo constituencies of North Kivu province due to the lingering Ebola outbreak, criminal acts, and terrorist attacks in tge region. Surprisingly, the news of the postponement by the electoral commission was not expected by majority of the populace who are eager to cast their vote.
“The news caught everyone by surprise, we did not expect it and it’s hurting. It is true that there is insecurity here and Ebola outbreak, but we didn’t expect this decision at all.” Nicaise Kibel a beni based Journalist said.
“Nanga tells us that because of Ebola, there will be no elections in Beni. Let me tell him that in Beni, weddings are celebrated every day, there are funerals, and there is everything here.”
” People touch each other and there is the washing of hands that has been instituted in front of churches, schools, universities. Really his decision to postpone the elections does not make sense. And in relation to insecurity, we have been complaining for many years, we made proposals to end the insecurity but nothing was done. We need elections.” He whined.
Posters of candidates in Lubumbashi city / Nina mitch
Going to the polls and proclaim the results of the ballot box is a relief for the population of Beni who are victims compared to other provinces in the country. So postponing these elections is really creating a spirit of revolt. This regime does not want Beni, yet the DRC cannot be called DRC without Beni.” Complained Clovis Mutsuva, a beni based member of Lucha movement.
The postponement has thrown up even more issues that might affect the credibility of the elections. For starters, it is estimated that 1,256,241 out of about forty million eligible voters would be disenfranchised in these territories during the presidential elections on Sunday.
From Beni city, Blaise Musubao who is contesting in the provincial election is not too happy with this development. He believes that the Ebola outbreak is a pretext used to deprive an area close to the opposition to vote.
“The electoral commission decision is just unacceptable,” he said.
“We will not support this decision, we will fight to enforce our right, how can you just forbid more than a million of population not to go to the polls? On January 18 the newly elected president must be sworn in and that Beni vote in March, is just unbelievable .”
Initially scheduled to hold on the December 23, the presidential, national and provincial elections were postponed to December 30 due to logistic difficulties, amongst others.
