By ‘Majirata Latela
Migrant workers in South Africa and other countries have pleaded with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to arrange for them to cast their votes in the country of residence for the national poll.
Speaking at a Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (LCN) week conference, a member of Lesotho Migrants Association, Lekhema Ramaphiri said IEC should make arrangements allowing them to cast their ballots in the foreign countries.
He said due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, many Basotho are likely not to make it home to vote during the national poll set for September this year.
“In the past, some of the politicians arranged for their supporters to make it home in order to vote for their political parties. But we are aware that subsequent to voting, some are unable to return to work,” he warned.
“Due to the high unemployment rate in the country, many Basotho have resorted to working in SA. Currently the number of Basotho working in SA is in thousands and if they do not vote it means we are losing a number of voters as a country,” he said.
When responding to what IEC can do to ensure not only Basotho diplomats in other countries but also migrants do vote. IEC district electoral officer in Butha-Buthe district, Kamohelo Chobokoane said the matter was receiving the commission’s attention.
He said IEC is currently busy with the law on diaspora registration which will also allow for potential voters outside Lesotho to register for elections. He added that they are also on the move to make enact legislation enabling voting in foreign land.
“Currently only people in the embassies and consulates are allowed to vote. but the number is very small. It doesn’t even make 10 percent of people outside Lesotho. If we have the law IEC will then be able to make sure that those migrant workers also vote without having to come into the country.
“If we don’t have such laws before elections then those people will still need to come into the country to cast their ballots. But voter registration is an on-going activity. So those migrants have an opportunity to register when visiting the country anytime.
“This issue of migrants not being able to vote wherever they are, is also the reason why we keep complaining of low voter turnover. I am not sure about this one, but when implementing the above laws, we are also looking at internally displaced persons,” he explained.
He added that IEC was aware of the challenges facing voters who are forced to leave the urban areas to vote in their constituencies… It is very expensive given the transport fares,” he noted.
The commission, he said, is looking at devising ways to allow for temporary urban residents to vote in the constituencies they reside in but allow their votes to be transferred to constituencies of their origin.
