[ad_1]
Like many countries, Ethiopia had postponed the sixth general election that was scheduled for August 29, 2020 mainly due to COVID-19.
Last year, in her opening speech to the joint session of the People’s Houses of Representatives and the Federation, President Sahlework Zewde expressed to the government strong commitments towards fair, free and credible elections. She also renewed the commitments when she officially inaugurated the parliament yesterday.
Noting the importance of accommodating more diverse points of view in parliament, he said that the government and relevant bodies are working day and night to realize this core value of democracy.
Taking into account the deep desire of the government for democratic elections, all fellow citizens also have a great responsibility to make the next general elections fair, free, credible and democratic in all respects.
Apparently, the Ethiopian National Electoral Board (NEBE) has been preparing to hold the first democratic election in the country with an improved electoral law and imported electoral equipment and materials that are inconvenient for any kind of fraudulent activities. Now NEBE is also led by an impartial president for the first time since its inception. This alone will play an important role in ensuring democratic elections.
Unlike the five elections held previously, the next general election is sure to include all political parties. This is because those who were in exile and took up arms have returned to their homes and are now operating legally and peacefully in the country to compete in elections.
In fact, NEBE will soon announce the election calendar and many unswervingly believe that there will be high voter turnout in the upcoming general election. According to some sources, there would be more than 50 million voters in the VI general elections.
In short, Ethiopia is ready for a free, fair and credible general election by taking all necessary precautionary measures to mitigate the risks of coronavirus. We all play a great role in achieving credible elections both before and after the elections. Election officials, media personnel, and election observers must be prepared to play their positive role in these historic elections.
