-PPRC Registrar cautions NEW
October 11, 2016 By Alusine Sesay
Acting Registrar of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), Zainab Umu Moseray has cautioned civil society election coalition, National Elections Watch (NEW), to keep their head high and work for posterity and not individual prosperity, adding that they should remain a civil society and not an evil society, as their contributions could make or break Sierra Leone.
The Acting PPRC Registrar was making a statement yesterday during the launch of the European Union funded Le2.3 billion (EUR 314,000) Elections Preparedness Project meant to strengthen NEW towards effective monitoring of the 2018 electoral cycle.
“You are called a civil society organisation because you are expected to represent the interests of the people and not a political party, tribe, region, culture etc. You must at all times be politically neutral, be consistent about the values and principles you stand for, be credible in your dealings with stakeholders, and finally always base your report on evidence not assumptions or rumours,” she noted.
She continued that they must bear in mind that some people, especially those that are politically charged, would always be suspicious of their moves when things would not be working in their favour, adding that they might be faced with a situation where some of their members, because of their alignments, might choose to fragment the organisation.
“But that shouldn’t deter you. You should keep your head up and work for posterity and not individual prosperity,” she cautioned.
She observed that the launch of the project was a demonstration of NEW’s commitment to succeed in the general elections, stating that the Commission was very much interested in working with them and looking forward to a long lasting relationship.
Delivering the keynote address at the occasion, German Ambassador to Sierra Leone and Head of EU Delegation, Peter Versteeg disclosed that the project was funded through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), which is a key grant facility that supports shared principles that underpins partnership agreements between the EU and third parties.
He said the project came at an opportune moment in time and would contribute to both the preparedness and the holding of the next general elections in Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Versteeg continued that Sierra Leone has made substantial progress in the consolidation of democratic governance and sustainable peace since the end of the civil war in 2002.
“The European Union, within the framework of building institutions and promoting democratic governance, and in alignment with the government’s national development plan, the Agenda for Prosperity, continues to support the government and people of Sierra Leone to sustain these gains,” he noted.
He said strengthening the role of the national civil society in democratic processes was a central objective in the EU’s development engagement with partner countries.
“The EU’s aim is to build the capacity of civil society organizations in order to increase their ability to be independent development actors themselves. The EU’s grant to National Elections Watch pursues two goals -to strengthen NEW’s organizational capacity and also support them in key preparedness activities towards the 2018 general elections in Sierra Leone,” he said.
“Civil society has an important role to play in observing the electoral process but also in supporting civic and voter education to ensure free, fair and credible elections. As an umbrella organization of over 370 civil society organisations, NEW’s contribution to ensuring freedom, fairness and transparency in past elections has gained it in-depth electoral experience in and outside Sierra Leone and established its standing as a voice of civil society in Sierra Leone.”
He reiterated that the 18 months project would support NEW to renew its membership and organisational structure through an update of the membership database and restructuring of its secretariat, adding that the EU trusted that they would judiciously utilise the project resources to make sure that the agreed result were achieved.
Reading a press statement at the launch of the project, newly elected Chairperson of NEW, Mrs. Marcella Samba-Sesay said the project would focus on restructuring and revamping the management and operational structures, develop a strategic direction for the next 5 year to ensure effective coordination, build legitimacy, inclusivity and sustainability.
“The project also supports the development of a non-partisan media reporting of the elections by ensuring the compliance of journalists with the media code of ethics. The project would further support NEW to observe the ongoing boundaries delimitation process and promote effective civic education on the process. It would also enhance civil society participation in Sierra Leone’s democratic space overall,” she said.
She expressed NEW’s commitment to support the conduct of presidential, parliamentary and local government elections on a day within February 2018, thus restating their resolve to continuously engage stakeholders in the electoral processes on a constructive basis and that they have built strong collaboration with different actors whose activities have bearing on the electoral process.
“That is why we believe that our observation must add value to the electoral process rather than undermining it, and as such NEW has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Electoral Commission in view of observing electoral processes from the frontline,” she said.
Chairperson of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), N’Fa Alie Conteh re-affirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting all phases of the elections in a free, fair and credible manner.
He said the title of the project would add value to the electoral process and promised to effectively coordinate with NEW in all phases of the 2018 electoral processes.