Western Equatoria State Prepares Election Officials for Upcoming Polls

The Western Equatoria State government, in collaboration with the State High Elections Committee (SHEC), has launched a two-day induction training for constituency returning officers and assistant constituency returning officers in Yambio. This training aims to equip officials with the knowledge and skills needed to coordinate electoral activities and support preparations for the forthcoming elections across the state. The training is part of efforts to strengthen electoral preparations at the grassroots level.

Western Equatoria State Caretaker Governor Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa reaffirmed the government's commitment to providing security and logistical support for the electoral process during the opening ceremony. He pledged to facilitate electricity connectivity by Tuesday to support the committee's operations. The governor urged participants to take the training seriously and pass on the knowledge and skills acquired to other electoral personnel in their respective constituencies through a Training of Trainers (ToT) approach.

Governor Rimbasa emphasized the crucial role of the officials in strengthening electoral preparations at the grassroots level by sharing their knowledge and training other personnel in their communities. He noted that the people of South Sudan had waited a long time for an opportunity to elect their leaders and that the national leadership had resolved to give citizens the chance to choose their representatives through the ballot. The governor's remarks underscored the importance of the training in ensuring a smooth electoral process.

SHEC Chairperson Simon Bakama explained that the two-day training was designed to prepare constituency returning officers and their assistants for their responsibilities ahead of the forthcoming electoral activities. The training would provide participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to coordinate electoral activities, support registration officers, and ensure that personnel assigned to designated registration centres were adequately prepared for their duties.

The officials being trained will serve across Western Equatoria State's 10 counties: Yambio, Nzara, Ibba, Maridi, Mvolo, Mundri East, Mundri West, Ezo, Tambura, and Nagero. The training is expected to strengthen the capacity of electoral personnel and improve coordination of electoral activities across the state ahead of the forthcoming elections. This development is a significant step towards ensuring that the electoral process is conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

The training will enable the officials to support and train registration officers in their respective constituencies and counties to strengthen the voter registration process. This is a critical aspect of the electoral process, as it will ensure that all eligible citizens are registered and able to exercise their right to vote. The officials will also be responsible for ensuring that personnel assigned to designated registration centres are adequately prepared for their duties.

The Western Equatoria State government's efforts to prepare election officials for the upcoming polls demonstrate its commitment to conducting a credible and transparent electoral process. The training of constituency returning officers and assistant constituency returning officers is a crucial step towards achieving this goal. The success of the electoral process will depend on the effectiveness of these officials in coordinating electoral activities and supporting registration officers.

Key points

• The Western Equatoria State government has launched a two-day induction training for constituency returning officers and assistant constituency returning officers.
• The training aims to equip officials with the knowledge and skills needed to coordinate electoral activities and support preparations for the forthcoming elections.
• The officials being trained will serve across Western Equatoria State's 10 counties.