Registration of Voters Continues in Qhoali Constituency

Registration of voters for the Qhoali Constituency by-election, to be held on October 16, will continue until July30, the Office of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in Quthing has reported.  

In an interview, registration clerk at the Dutch Reformed Church registration point at Mphaki, Mrs. Libuseng Korotsoane said people expected to register were those who for various reasons including being out of the country at the time and being under the age of 18 during registration process. did not register for the 2002 general elections as well as for the last by-elections in the  Constituency last year.

She appealed to the Qhoali community to ensure that they get registered for elections since people who will not register would not get an opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice to represent them in Parliament.

The Qhoali constituency has 29 registration points identified at public service places such as schools, churches, health clinics and chiefs residences, also centrally placed such that communities do not have to travel long distance for registration.

Voter education in the Constituency  was also going well with people attending the awareness campaigns in large numbers, according to IEC voter educator Mr. Rethabile Sekotlo.   

He said voter education would continue until polling day, covering topics such as the importance of voter registration, people's right to vote and the polling process.

The by-election in Qhoali constituency is being held to find a replacement for the late Member of Parliament for Qhoali, Mr. Tlokotsi Belebesi who died on May 29th after a short illness.          

28 July 2004