YALI projects voter apathy in August elections

The Young Leaders Initiative (YALI) has observed that the low voter verification turnout is an indication that the August 11^th General Elections will be marred with voter apathy.

YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza says the failure by political party leaders to sensitize registered voters to verify their identifies is a pointer towards the low voter turnout in the 2016 general elections.

Mr. Mwanza feels that voter turnout may be as low as 45 percent, going the current 30 percent turnout in the verification exercise.

Isaac Mwanza

Mr. Mwanza says his organization believes that the turnout is clear indication that political parties are not doing enough to prepare voters to turn up in this year’s elections and cast their vote.

He has reminded political parties that experience should have taught them that those numbers turning up during political rallies can be deceiving because it includes the same cadres who are ferried from one location to another and none voters who turn up to show free musical show by musicians.

The YALI Governance Advisor has since implored all political parties, ECZ and civil society stakeholders to go to the grassroots and prepare voters to verify their identities and ensure they are designated to correct polling centers.