Angola vote body accused of irregularities

Associated Press

(File image) Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos

Luanda - Angola's political opposition on Friday accused the National Electoral Commission (CNE) of irregularities ahead of general polls set for late August.

“We call on the CNE to take the necessary decisions to correct these irregularities to ensure that the electoral process is truly free, fair and transparent,” said Abel Chivukuvuku, president of the Broad Convergence of Angolan Salvation (Casa) coalition after meeting the CNE.

“The number of voters is unclear, the CNE cannot say how early or foreign voting will be organised, or give the publication date of the voters' roll.”

The main opposition National Union for the Independence of Angola (Unita) on Thursday also appealed to the CNE with eight complaints, including to protesting the choice of the Spanish company to print the ballot, the same as for elections five years ago.

“Indra is the company which in 2008 published 26 million election ballot papers for Angola, as you can see on their website, when the CNE had only ordered 10 million. What happened to the 16 million left-over ballots?” asked Unita president Isaias Samakuva.

The ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) assured that the challenges facing the electoral body would be smoothed out.

“The CNE, an independent body which comprises representatives from all the parties, is facing some difficulties but it will resolve these,” said party spokesman Rui Luis Falcao Pinto de Andrade.

The general elections of 31 August will be only the third since Angola gained independence in 1975. In 2008, the MPLA President Jose Eduardo dos Santos won over 80 percent of the vote against 10 percent for Unita. - Sapa-AFP