Maseru, Aug.18 — Even though the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) opened registration for 17 year-old youth who will turn 18 years before September 29 Local Government elections day, turnout of the said age group has been reported to be low.
In its elections timetable, IEC had issued that registration of 17 year-olds was open from July 03 to 11.
Speaking in an interview on Friday, Maama Constituency IEC Returning Officer Mrs. ‘Marethabile Kabi confirmed that though the registration has closed, the turnout was not as high as during the October 2022 general elections.
However she said that she does not have exact statistics but realized that during the said registration period, in a day they had one legible person while in some days there were none.
She added that even first time voters did not come in large numbers as they did last year attributing this therefore to ignorance or lack of interest by members of the public to the upcoming elections.
Moreover, she indicated that voter roll is out therefore urged people to go to nearest Electoral Division (ED) offices to check their names and their transfers for those who applied saying that they should not wait for election day as it would be stressful if their names do not appear.
On the other hand, one Relebohile Mabejane told the Agency that he was interested to vote last year but he was not 18 yet. He said that he turned 18 in May this year but has not registered with IEC saying he is not keen to vote because he has not seen anything better from Councillors except land allocation.
Meanwhile, IEC has opened this period from July 28 to September 28 as a campaign period by contesting candidates.
Lesotho first held Local Government elections in 2005 and will hold the third edition on September 29.
