Dibussi Tande: Scribbles from the Den

Commonwealth Releases Final Report on 2013 Legislative & Municipal Elections in Cameroon

The Commonwealth Expert Team which monitored the September 30, 2013 legislative and municipal elections in Cameroon has released its final report. The team observed among other things that:

Biometric registration brought about better management of the voters’ register. This resulted in smooth registration operations at polling stations and no instances of double voting were observed. The new registration methodology marked a substantial improvement in the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.

Nonetheless, it noted that there were some significant issues that have to be addressed to increase the credibility of future elections, for example, 

In relation to the electoral campaign, three key issues emerged. Firstly, while funding was made available to political parties for campaigning, these funds were insufficient and were not made available in time to enable use by political parties for their campaign. Secondly, opposition parties reported that obtaining authorisation for meetings and rallies remained challenging. Lastly, opposition parties deemed that the absence of a defined electoral calendar put them at a disadvantage in campaigning effectively.

Click here to read or download the Commonwealth report (PDF).

Cameroon Bishops Issue Guidelines for 2013 Twin Elections

National Episcopal Conference Pastoral Letter of the Archbishops and Bishops of Cameroon on the Occasion of the September 30, 2013 Twin Elections.

"During this upcoming election... The candidates you will choose must be men and women... who have shown proof of the respect of the common good, fundamental human rights, justice and peace... As Archbishops and Bishops, pastors and witnesses to our people’s living conditions, it is important that we draw your attention to some of the fundamental pressing problems that should guide the conscience of candidates and voters."

To all priests, religious men and women,
To all Catholic Faithful,
And people of goodwill,

Dear brothers and sisters,

1-  We implore God’s grace and peace for each Cameroonian, through His Son Jesus Christ, for He Himself is our peace (Eph 2:14), so that we may pursue “the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” (Rom 14:19), and that we may walk with dignity towards the construction of a peacefully, just and loving Cameroon.