Major opposition parties are yet to agree on whether to
boycott the 2016 elections, even after prominent opposition leader, Dr
Kizza Besigye, unequivocally indicated that he will not participate,
citing an unfair electoral system.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Mr Norbert Mao, the DP president, acknowledged that though “they [DP] respect Dr Besigye’s view”, boycotting the 2016 polls would be adopting a “defeatist mentality”.
Mr Mao came third in the contest for the presidency in the 2011 polls.
“No dictatorship can lay a red carpet for its opponents, all we [Opposition] have to do is to be better organised and ensure that there are electoral reforms to have free and fair elections in 2016. This regime is like the apartheid regime in South Africa and DP has a history of fighting dictatorships from the colonial times,” Mr Mao said.
UPC vice president Joseph Bbosa fell short of conceding that his party would boycott the 2016 polls, only saying “we will cross the bridge when we get there” but insisted that overhauling the electoral system is a prerequisite for a “meaningful election”.
Speaking on behalf of the EC yesterday, Mr Jotham Taremwa, the EC spokesman, appeared unmoved by calls to have the body disbanded. He instead accused the opposition politicians of perpetuating “rehearsed and recycled statements with no grain of truth”.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Mr Norbert Mao, the DP president, acknowledged that though “they [DP] respect Dr Besigye’s view”, boycotting the 2016 polls would be adopting a “defeatist mentality”.
Mr Mao came third in the contest for the presidency in the 2011 polls.
“No dictatorship can lay a red carpet for its opponents, all we [Opposition] have to do is to be better organised and ensure that there are electoral reforms to have free and fair elections in 2016. This regime is like the apartheid regime in South Africa and DP has a history of fighting dictatorships from the colonial times,” Mr Mao said.
UPC vice president Joseph Bbosa fell short of conceding that his party would boycott the 2016 polls, only saying “we will cross the bridge when we get there” but insisted that overhauling the electoral system is a prerequisite for a “meaningful election”.
Speaking on behalf of the EC yesterday, Mr Jotham Taremwa, the EC spokesman, appeared unmoved by calls to have the body disbanded. He instead accused the opposition politicians of perpetuating “rehearsed and recycled statements with no grain of truth”.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Toa maoni yako lakini angalia kuchafua hali ya hewa na usimuumize mwenzako