CSOs urged to raise awareness of community on election

Addis Ababa, January 21, 2020 (FBC) –Scholars have called upon civil society organizations (CSOs) to fulfil their responsibilities in raising awareness of the community on Ethiopia’s upcoming general election.

Assistant Professor of Law at the Hawassa University, Shemelis Ashagre, said CSOs are required to sensitize the people so that they will be reasonable while casting their votes.

According to him, the people should understand well the alternative programs and policies of competing political parties ahead of deciding to cast their votes.

He also called on political parties to present clear programs and policies to their target audiences and supporters.

Commending the amendment made on CSOs law following the reform, Shemelis urged the Organizations to seize the opportunity to take active participation.

Dr Demeke Hatiso, a political science instructor at the Addis Ababa University (AAU), said maintaining peace should be a priority for all pertinent bodies to make the election credible, democratic and participatory.

A social anthropology instructor at the Wachamo University, Assistant Professor Worku Yakob, said CSOs should create an equal platform for all participants of the election.

The scholars finally called for active participation of the community and CSOs to make the forthcoming election peaceful, credible, fair and democratic.