THERE have been a lot of talk about the possibility of local government elections in the very near future – perhaps as early as December. While the opposition seems to be hesitant about those elections, the Minister of Communities Mr Ronald Bulkan, appears to be ready to go to the polls. Perhaps the governing coalition wants to ride on the goodwill generated among its supporters by its success at the just concluded general elections.
The PPP, for its part, has said it is reluctant to go to the elections under the current GECOM leadership. But the party may be more concerned about the timing of the elections. Having just lost a general election its supporters may be somewhat demoralised. Understandably, it is more difficult to mobilise such a constituency. And with the absence of incumbency, the party may be hard-pressed to garner the resources needed for such an effort.
Of course, there is no guarantee that local government elections would excite the same kind of enthusiasm as in the general elections. People tend not to attach the same kind of importance to elections at the local level. In our case whole generations have not been socialised to vote at those elections. In 45 years we have had only one such election.
We agree that the elections are long overdue. The local organs are broken. Many of the councils are controlled by overlords. There is little or no accountability. Young people and women are underrepresented. Many of the IMC’s are peopled by handpicked party operatives. Corruption is rampant. The NDC’s are not representative of the villages under their jurisdiction. Some villages literally have no representation on the council. The case for early elections is, then, justified.
But even as the government may be justifiably anxious for the elections, due consideration needs to be given to the mobilisation of widespread participation, regardless of party affiliation. Democracy is underserved if voters are not mobilised to participate in large numbers. Towards this end, the timing of the elections should be balanced by an aggressive voter education campaign.
Such a campaign has to focus on educating the populace about the importance of Local government.
The linkage between local government and their own individual and community development has to be emphasised. Local government has to be seen by the voters not simply as an extension of central government, but as another relatively autonomous level of government.
From all indications, the parties seem to favour going to the elections in their own name. This brings with it the bitterness that accompanies general and regional elections – the elections could be transformed into an ethnic campaign and census. This would, of course, undermine the real meaning of local democracy, which should be about the interests of the community rather than the party or the race.
But even in the face of those challenges we hope the elections would advance rather than retard democracy and nationhood. We, therefore, urge those concerned to do everything in their power to make the elections a meaningful exercise rather than one that is mere window-dressing or a forum for flexing partisan political muscles.