Electoral Registers : Timid Start In Yaounde

Electoral lists for January to August 2021 are now open nationwide. This is in accordance with the Electoral Code in Section 74 (2) which states the annual revision of the electoral registers shall commence on January 1 and end on 31 August of every year. This year, the electoral list opened on Monday January 04, 2021 across the ten regions of the country. 
In Yaounde, a visit to the different ELECAM Council Branch offices was made with a timid start of the registration process. At the Yaounde I Council Branch office at the Dragage neighbourhood, just very few persons sporadically showed up to get themselves enlisted on the electoral lists. The official at the office said they have a meeting every Monday morning during which practical decisions on sensitising the population on the importance of having themselves registered on voters’ lists and participating in the electoral process and fine-tuned. Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the staff work in weekly shifts. 
Thus far, there have been no registrations at the Yaounde V Council Branch office at Nkolmesseng. The main activity which dominates is the withdrawal of voters’ cards. At the entrance to the office is a publicity post with some words such as ‘inscriptions are open’, ‘voter’s cards are available for withdrawal’ and other useful information on the electoral process. With the Branch Office Chief on annual leave, other staff are at the office to ensure that persons who show up at the office are properly attended to. The officials note that they show up at the office at 7:30 am and close at...