Major contenders in Uganda's looming elections Photo courtesy
Election Violence
Election violence is any harm or threat of harm to any person or property involved in the election process, or to the election process itself during the election period. It is a systematic and a premeditated act aimed at monopolizing electoral victories through various coercive means and may be manifested in fear and threat inflicted. Electoral related violence is political violence that targets the electoral process. It is usually geared towards winning political competition or power through violence, subverting the ends of electoral and democratic process. It is well known that the causes of election - related violence include political repression, ethno – religious politics and misguided media report.
Manifestation of Electoral – Related Violence
Election violence can take place before, during or after elections. No matter when it happens, it has social, political and economic impacts on the community, the electoral process and democratization of the state. This is manifest through: violent street protest; disruption of public meetings and rallies; destruction of electoral material; torturing/ killing; harassment and intimidation; attacking, raping and murdering civilians among others. In the process, hundreds of homes and businesses are looted, burned, or smashed by crowds enraged by the election results.
The Electoral Process
The electoral related acts are encountered within phases of election, as in registration, campaign, polling, counting, transmission, tallying and declaration of results.
During voter registration, there is disenfranchising of voters/qualification of voters such as inclusion of non-eligible / non-citizen; exclusion of eligible voters on the register; intimidation of registration officials; manipulation of voters’ register; multiple registration and missing particulars on the register; wrong deletion from and retention of voters’ particulars in the register and inaccessibility to the display or polling register. Conflict can occur either when an applicant cannot establish or re-establish their officially recognized identities or there is misplacement or loss of registers and other registration/election materials.
During voter education, there may be uttering defamatory statements; use of highly charged messaging, materials or information; issuing distorted, biased, or partisan publicity; untimely and inadequate voter education messages as well as recruiting partial and unqualified election officials who make errors.
In the nomination stage, there may be lack of academic requirements for nomination leading to disqualification from nomination; delayed verification of nomination papers; and use of convoy of more than two vehicles
At the campaigns stage, conflicts can occur as rivals seek to disrupt the opponents’ campaigns, intimidate voters and candidates, and use threats and violence to influence participation in the voting. The campaign period is the time when election violence is most likely to take place. The most common forms of election violence around the world include: bribery; over-commercialization of politics; bias funding of candidates leading to unleveled political playing field; interference with/ disrupting campaigns programs; mounting effigies of candidates at certain lo0cations; destruction of campaign literature such as posters; disrupting gatherings, assault and political intimidation; clashes and skirmishes among supporters of political parties/organizations or candidates; none adherence to campaign programmes and procedures; failure to follow the time gazette to campaigns; defacing/ destroying campaign posters; use of abusive language; and use of rowdy convoy.
Polling, Counting, Transmission, Tallying and Declaration of Results
Balloting conflicts occur on election day when political rivalries are played out at the polling station. It is manifested in delay of opening/Closing of polling stations; failure to follow polling station operational procedures; disagreement on polling station layout; failure to understand the rolls of the various stakeholders present in the polling; complaints regarding the transparency of procedures and practice that directly; affected the secrecy of their vote; tampering with ballot boxes; illegal casting of ballot/contention on assistive voting for the people with Disabilities (PWDs), illiterate and elderly; illegal possession of electoral materials/ stealing of election materials and attempted multiple voting, refusal of inking or use of indelible markers.
At this stage of Polling, Counting, Transmission, Tallying and Declaration of Results, there may be cases of impersonation as voter, agents or Election Observer; rigging/ Ballot stuffing; undue influence of voters; interference in voting process; forcefully evicting polling agents or officials from polling stations; use of threats and violence to influence participation in the voting; ferrying voters to polling stations; voter obstruction and attempts to rig the results; intimidation of voters and candidates; change of, and disputes over election results; the manner in which results are reported and disagreement over, counting, declaration, and transmission of results, and signing of Declaration forms.
Conflict from election results can occur in disputes over election results fair, and transparent manner. The manner in which results are reported can also be a conflict issue. Campaign conflict is the main common type of conflicts which leads to election violence. Post election violence has of recent been in the news with devastating effect on the business community and private sector. The outbreak of post-election violence in the wake of Kenya’s 2007 general election, in which about 600 people were reported dead while several others got injured and property destroyed brought to the fore the problem of election-related violence in Africa. In the forthcoming general elections in Uganda, all stakeholders including (The private sector, the police and electoral commission) need to closely work together to ensure a peaceful 2010 general election.
Impact of Election Violence on the Business Community
As a universal fact, election violence leads to the destruction of economic infrastructure and scares away the much needed foreign investment. Once a country is engulfed in violence, not only will investors shy away from the country but those already in the country are most likely to relocate to a safer environment. Electoral-related violence can influence potential investors to adopt a wait-and-see attitude, possibly to invest after peaceful elections, or those who cannot wait will seek investment opportunities elsewhere. The business community and the country may not meet the projected growth targets when looting of stock in shops and loss of jobs to people ensue.
Election violence leads to loss of productivity as industry workers don’t turn up for duty. Clashes between ethnic groups may divide the workforce and may affect the industry’s productivity bottom line. Intense election violence lowers industry’s workers moral and trust. Without that trust, their productivity is diminished, and their inner heart of work is also lost. Election violence greatly affects business due to displacement and movement in to camps.
Mitigation Strategies
A range of mitigation strategies can be put in place in order to effectively counter this type of election malpractices in 2011 General Elections. They include adequate election conflict resolution and risk mapping and management mechanisms; close working relationship with all stakeholders, business community, security agencies, in monitoring and reporting on election violence, since rumors and incomplete information can fuel violence; holding of consultative meetings, seminars, workshops with all stakeholders e.g. police, Political parties and candidates, the security agencies and business community; intensifying drives to educate citizens and raise public awareness on election violence and providing election guidelines to business leaders, community, Civil Society Organizations, National Consultative Forum for Political Party & Organizations, and query/ complaints desk.
Proactivity is required of the Private Sector, since it is critical in reducing the likelihood of violence during the election process. In addition, there is need for international and domestic election observation; Political Party engagement; civil society activism and network building; Media responsibility; adequate security during election and restrain of the business community from funding candidates, political parties/organizations and commercialization of politics.
Roles of the Stakeholders in Mitigation Election Violence
First, the government has the responsibility to ensure that freedom of movement for political players, freedom of expression, meeting and discussion, press freedom, the presence of independent justice institution as well as civil organization in the major criteria. Much of the responsibility to ensure violence-free election also rests with political parties and their supporters. Political Parties have the responsibility to educate their members against lawless acts that disturb the peace before, during and after an election. It is also prudent for political parties to commit themselves to a binding election code of conduct, and restrain from bullying party members. The business community, voting, public and society as a whole has the responsibility to reject any and all attempts by political parties to buy their votes, take part in vote rigging or participate in street protests that have no basis.
There is a need to cultivate constant dialogue among the key election stakeholders to deal with all real or perceived issues likely to cause violence during elections, bribery and biased sponsoring of candidates. The UNCCI and ALERT, the police and other security organs should play their roles according to established laws.The media also has a responsibility in that it should refrain from hyping baseless allegations that will heighten political tension before, during and after an election. The responsibilities of the media and UNCCI and ALERT should include educating the public against acts of violence during elections.
Conclusion
The devastating effects of electoral related violence on the life and properties of citizens and the business community can not be ignored. Left to their own devises clashes candidates’ supporters, and post-election violence can cause mayhem. In the event of election violence, the country’s economy stands to lose more in revenue collection, and decline in growth rate, and may jobs could be at risk. It is therefore important that the public sector, in collaboration with the police, security agents, political actors, and business community/leaders develop prevention and response strategies to identify the specific security needs of communities and potential for violence, and to be sturdy and impartial to give 2011 general election the peace required. Biased sponsoring of candidates/ political parties /organizations, and over commercialization of politics are the areas the police and business community should watch for.
Recommendations
There ought to be involvement of all stakeholders in the development and implementation of the strategies to increase safety and security during elections. The business community, and the Ugandan Police should take a proactive role by holding meetings with all political actors to prevent election violence, bribery, biased funding of candidates, over commercialization of politics rather than waiting for incidents to happen. It is the responsibility of business community, the police and all political actors to ensure a leveled political playing field and that the rules of the electoral game are respected to ensure violence-free 2011 general elections.
For God and My Country
By Eng. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu
Chairperson, Electoral Commission, Uganda
At the conference organised by Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Alert.