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S.Africa, Zambia call for speedy finalisation of DRCongo vote result
JOHANNESBURG, Jan 9, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – South Africa’s President Cyril
Ramaphosa and his Zambian counterpart Edgar Lungu on Wednesday called on
electoral officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo to quickly wrap up
the vote collation and release the presidential election results.
The two leaders held emergency talks in Pretoria as the release of the
results of the vote — which has been postponed three times over the last two
years — was further delayed.
Tensions have increased as international pressure mounts to publish the
outcome in a country where past elections were marred by violence.
“The two presidents have called on CENI (Independent National Electoral
Commission) to speedily finalise the vote tabulation and release the election
results in order to maintain the credibility of elections,” South Africa’s
foreign affairs ministry said.
The leaders “underscored that the delay in releasing the results of the
elections can lead to suspicions and compromise peace and stability of the
country”.
The CENI has blamed problems with collecting the data announced on Tuesday
that provisional results of the much-delayed presidential election could be
counted in “24 to 48 hours” after which an announcement will be scheduled.
South Africa, a non-permanent council member, is a leading power in the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) that includes the DR Congo.
Lungu heads SADC’s section that deals with peace and security.
First results of the December 30 election to choose a successor to long-
term President Joseph Kabila were due on Sunday.
Kabila was meant to step down two years ago but clung on to office,
sparking widespread protests which were brutally repressed, killing dozens in
a country that has been a battleground for two wars over the last two
decades.
With international concerns growing over the peaceful transfer of power in
sub-Saharan Africa’s largest nation, Western powers have upped the pressure.
Opposition presidential candidate Martin Fayulu earlier on Tuesday warned
electoral authorities not to “disguise the truth of the polls” as he urged
the authorities to publish the outcome.
BSS/AFP/RY/1910 hrs