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Many countries around the world decided to resume a series of activities with COVID-19, although its prevalence has continued to increase. Since life must be maintained to perpetuate the generation, almost every country in the world has restarted its operational activities. Our country is not exceptional in this regard.
That is why the Ministry of Health recently recommended to the country to hold the sixth round of the national general elections, reopen schools, hold sports games and celebrate holidays, taking precautionary measures to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
Presenting the resolution to the House of People’s Representatives, Dr. Lia Tadesse, Minister of Health, said that the coronavirus pandemic remains a threat to health, but that the country may hold the sixth national general elections as the spread of the pandemic is less than previously predicted.
The speculation of course required a postponement, but we are now better informed and have also developed a better awareness of the virus and we understand that the coronavirus would stay with us for an unspecified time in the future.
He also noted that there are better protection conditions and personal protective equipment in the country. The availability of health facilities, the supply of supplies, and the capacity of laboratories have also improved.
It also indicated that the Ethiopian National Electoral Board can begin its preparations to carry out the sixth national general elections by drawing up and applying an electoral code of conduct, establishing norms and guidelines for application, taking all prevention and care measures. possible to effectively prevent the spread of the pandemic. .
After a discussion, the Chamber approved the resolution that was presented by the Minister of Health and recommended the holding of the VI national general elections, the reopening of schools, the holding of sports games and the celebration of holidays.
Following this, the Ethiopian National Electoral Board (NEBE) organized a media tour to show what level it is at in terms of preparations to hold the upcoming national general elections.
As The Ethiopian Herald has provided its readers with the required information in this regard previously, the Board informed reporters that it has prepared 90 percent of the electoral materials required for the sixth national general election and that it is now available.
The Board also announced that more than 50 million voters are expected to participate in the elections using some 50,900 voting centers.
Birtukan Midheksa, president of NEBE, told reporters that all necessary preparations are underway. “The Board has been working hard to help the nation hold credible and reliable elections using standard materials, unlike previous elections, and preparations are going well in this regard.”
For her part, Soliyana Shimelis, NEBE Communications Advisor, stated that the Board has prepared ballot boxes, voter registration forms in five local languages and packaging materials to transport the ingredients of the ballot boxes.
According to her, a box with 29 different items will be sent to each voting station. A total of 644 small generators and more than 2,500 laptops and tablets would also be distributed to various constituencies.
“The Board has facilitated the condition of providing about 152,700 people with training on voter registration and 254,500 people with knowledge on how to handle the voting process,” Soliyana said.
Last Friday, members of the House of People’s Representatives, including Speaker of the House Tagesse Chafo, Vice President Shitaye Minale and representatives of the sub-permanent committees of the House, conducted a field observation organized by the Board. Ethiopian National Electoral Election Board to witness the preparation of the Board to hold the upcoming sixth national general elections.
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Members of the House also looked at the materials prepared by the Board for the elections. They also expressed appreciation for the encouraging work that the Board has been doing.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tagesse Chaffo, told reporters that all the materials prepared for the elections are much better than the materials we used in previous national elections.
He said: “The old urn was susceptible to fraud and treason. But now, as we have seen, the urn is too transparent to represent what it is wearing.”
He also noted that these materials will help us to conduct credible and internationally accepted elections.
The Chamber will provide the necessary follow-up and support so that the Board can fulfill its responsibilities effectively, according to him.
Birtukan Midheksa, president of NEBE, for her part, informed the members of the Chamber that the materials will be very useful to avoid deceptive actions and minimize public suspicions during the elections.
