In an effort to ensure clean and fair election in the upcoming state assembly election, the Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) has endorsed guidelines of the Chakhesang Clean Election Movement (CCEM) issued by the Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC).
The guidelines were issued to check corrupt and unlawful practices during election. CPO has appealed to all the people within its jurisdiction for effective implementation of the directives.
CPO has urged all the churches irrespective of denominations to propagate and implement the CCEM guidelines in their respective localities. It has also urged all the village councils to spread and propagate the message of ‘Clean Election’ and to let the CCEM guidelines reach all sections of people irrespective of party affiliations and religious denominations.
It also urged upon the village councils to enforce the principles and guidelines of CCEM in letter and in spirit. All the areas/ ranges are also requested to provide necessary assistance in the dissemination and implementation of the CCEM guidelines.
CPO expressed hope that the respective church bodies and village councils would positively respond to the above appeal and rid unlawful and ungodly practices during elections.
All CPO frontal organisations including CYF, CSU and CMA are informed to give full cooperation and assistance wherever necessary.
This was stated in a joint statement issued by CPO president, Vezuhu Keyho, and the general secretary, Chepetso Koza.
Meanwhile, the Chakhesang Clean Election Movement (CCEM) has issued guidelines to its frontal organisations to ensure clean, fair and honest election.
The directives issued by CCEM are as follows:
- Party flags, posters, banners and billboards shall not be displayed on church buildings and premises, institutions and public buildings.
- Use of intoxicants such as alcohol shall be restricted and inflow of liquor shall be prohibited.
- No political parties shall organise feasts nor create nuisance in their respective offices in towns and villages.
- No political parties shall organise mass procession in support of a particular political candidate.
- No one shall be allowed to sell or buy votes.
- Only eligible voters attaining 18 years of age shall be allowed to vote as per the election rules.
- One person, one vote shall be enforced and proxy vote shall not be allowed.
- Church workers shall not be allowed to engage in canvassing, even their residence shall not be used for election purpose. If any church worker wishes to involve in the election campaign, he/she should resign first and be relieved from church ministry for a period of five years.
- No political parties shall conduct election campaign on Sundays.
- National political groups or any other groups shall not be allowed to use arms or force and engaging in booth capturing during election.
- Use of force or booth capturing shall boot be allowed during election.
- The village authority shall organise common platform for all the political parties to share their respective manifestoes.
- No village authority shall be allowed to declare solid/ majority in favour of a particular candidate for the sake of village peace and harmony.
- Candidates are not allowed to engage in hate campaign, false propaganda and character assassination.
- All the believers are requested to pray and elect capable and God-fearing leaders and to ensure free and fair election.
- Chakhesang Clean Election Movement shall work to ensure clean electoral roll in all Chakhesang villages and extend all possible cooperation and support the government and its election machineries.
- Chakhesang Clean Election Movement shall work with village authority and church workers to implement the given clean election guidelines.
