democracy

Scores of independent Zimbabwean civic, pro-democracy and rights groups say they will boycott monitoring of voting in a referendum on a new constitution unless the state election commission withdraws bans on activists that affect several key local organisations.
 
The commission has so far refused to accredit as poll monitors members of the Zimbabwe Association of Human Rights and says groups under police investigation will also be barred access to the 16 March 2013 polling.
 

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has hosted a two-day seminar on electronic voting (e-voting) and counting technologies in Cape Town.
 
IEC vice-chairperson, Terry Tselane, states that the purpose of the event was to stimulate debate on electronic voting and counting.
 
"We are confident that our democracy has reached a level of maturity whereby we can have a healthy, robust discussion of the complex issues that require consideration before embarking on the journey of implementing e-voting, should we decide to do so," he explains.
 

Sub-Saharan African countries have seen major advances in freedom and democracy, according to the report ‘Freedom in the World 2013’ presented in the European Parliament.

The report by United States-based NGO, Freedom House, report marks the seventh consecutive year in which countries with declines outnumbered those with improvements.

High Court Judge, Louis Vorster, had misinterpreted a section of the South African National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL) Act on public consultation to reach his ruling that e-tolling could proceed.

Mike Maritz, for the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA), argued before Vorster that he had ‘erred fundamentally’ in his interpretation of section 27 (4) of the Act.

Maritz said Vorster had not engaged with the argument against a lack of ‘procedural fairness’ in the way SANRAL had informed the public about e-tolling.

Zimbabwe's top judge has called for elections slated for later this year to be violence-free, as ill-preparedness raised fears of a repeat of previously bloody polls.

Chief justice, Godfrey Chidyausiku, says that, "We add our voice to those who are calling for free and fair elections that are held in a violence-free atmosphere."

Chidyausiku is of the view that while the courts stand ready to hear cases relating to the forthcoming elections, he hopes that litigation if any, relating to the running of and the results emerging from the polls, will be very little.

Google has launched a platform that promises to change the way citizens participate in election processes.

The Internet giant launched a Kenya Elections Hub where voters, campaigners and the media can track trends on the election.

The company believes that the Internet could play a critical role in transforming the way people engaged with their leaders, particularly in developing countries.

The Opposition against Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) has called on Gauteng motorists to lend financial support in the battle against the e-tolling in the Province.

OUTA chairperson, Wayne Duvenage, points out that, “The big challenge for us is funding our legal costs. And we appeal to the public and business to become far more active and participate in supporting OUTA in this initiative, in this cause which is in the interests of the public.”