The South West Regional Delegation of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) is actively involved in field trips, series of meetings and press briefings with stakeholders involved in the electoral process. Of the nine million target voters nationwide, the ELECAM South West strides to produce as many registered voters as possible. So far, sensitization is done through spots in English, French and pidgin on radio stations. The aim is to sensitise the local population on voting as fulfilling their civic right and responsibility. Another method employed is field contact for a better outreach, especially for people living in remote areas. The South West Regional Delegate of ELECAM Mr Njang Emmanuel and his various Divisional Heads are continuously involved in meetings on better election management strategies. ELECAM Board Member, Professor Dorothy Njeuma in a recent press briefing, announced her decision to embark on a field tour. Her objective was to visit all ELECAM offices in the Region to check their installations, hold working sessions with stakeholders to brainstorm on how to best carry out the election process. Similarly, political parties’ heads or members are launching various strategic campaigns towards massive voters’ registration.
Registration pace is slow. At the Buea based Fako Divisional Branch of ELECAM, passers-by barely notice anything going on within its confines. The office is rather quiet with people barely moving in or out. Some Buea residents CT talked to expressed reluctance to vote. Their reasons include the lack of confidence in ELECAM; others intend to do so later, while some talked about not knowing where to register. At the same time, a different set of individuals believe in registration and voting. They believe it is their civic responsibility and the only means to create change.
According to Njang Emmanuel, the South West Region counts 22,776 registered voters, as of mid November, 2010. He added that more staff has been employed and dispatched to the different ELECAM offices, so that registration numbers should increase significantly in the days ahead. The Buea ELECAM office has programmed a press conference at the end of the Board member, Professor Dorothy Njuema’s field tour.
