TOGO: Togolese candidates on campaign trail ahead of controversial legislative poll

Record ID: 346800

  • Title: TOGO: Togolese candidates on campaign trail ahead of controversial legislative poll
  • Date: 22nd July 2013
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF MAN WORKING ON COMPUTER AT UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICES IN TOGO
  • Embargoed: 6th August 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Togo
  • Country: Togo
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7KBK21VR7GRKERLLGAJZ4CMKX
  • Story Text: Candidates representing various political parties in Togo are taking their campaigns from door to door ahead of parliamentary elections planned for July 25.
    The West African nation is gearing up to hold the twice delayed polls, following an agreement between major opposition coalitions and the ruling party.
    Some of the main sticking points included the opposition demands for reform in the country's electoral commission, and the release of opposition supporters who were arrested in January.
    The opposition also accuses the government of changing the country's constituency boundaries, which were redrawn in May last year, which it says favours the ruling party and is challenging a move to increase the number of seats in parliament to 91 from 81.
    Gerry Taama, candidate for the New Togolese Engagement political party or NET took his campaign to the streets of the capital Lome, and into the city's markets.
    "We have a adopted a completely new approach, we want to go to the people, listen to them, and hear their message. We cannot ask them to leave their stalls. For these women, these stalls are their lives. We cannot ask them to leave them to come and listen to us. It's up to us to come to them and take their dreams and aspirations and transform them to law at the the national assembly, since it's where we are going to end up, of course," he said.
    Togo's current President Faure Gnassingbe came to power in disputed and violent elections in 2005 after the death of his father, who had run the country for nearly four decades.
    He was re-elected to a second term in 2010 in a poll marred by opposition complaints of fraud and intimidation.
    The tiny, cotton and phosphate-producing West African nation has been trying to push through economic reforms to expand its economy, which struggled during decades of single party rule but has seen signs of progress in recent years.
    Despite new campaign promises to create more jobs, reduce poverty and improve education, many doubt Gnassignbe's regime will deliver on its promises.
    "I told her that if she wins, she should deliver on her promises, because in the past, people have promised us many things that were never realised. We still don't have clean water", said Lome resident, Aniko Lawson, referring to parliamentary candidate Patricia Ayaovi Zonvide, running under the ruling party ticket, the Union for the Republic (UNIR).
    Zonvide said her party's main aim is serve the people, encourage leaders to get close to them and assess their needs on the ground "It's not just about us waiting for reports and studies that are done form afar before we can take action. We need to know what people need, what their challenges are. We have gone to many homes, and we have reassured the people. I think that is what the population needs the most, to be close to their leaders," she said.
    According to analysts, these elections are widely seen as the a test for Gnassingbe's regime and his hold on power, amidst growing discontent.
    In other parts of Lome, opposition leader Jean Pierre Fabre, who is running under the coalition of opposition parties known as Let's Save Togo held rallies in Lome, where he reminded supporters to pay attention to the voting process and report fraud.
    "When we participate in a campaign, and take it seriously as we do, we expect to be victorious in the end. It's not enough to mobilise people. It's also important to keep an eye on the voting process as well as the CENI (Independent Electoral commission) to prevent fraud from taking place," he said.
    To ensure transparency and calm during the elections, the United Nations office of the High Commissioner for human rights in Togo has set up an internet platform, for people to report any human rights violations or irregularities during the vote.
    "We want to give people an opportunity to get in touch with us on time, when they feel they are under threat or when they witness something, like the word "ASSEREDASEFO", which means witness in local Togolese languages. If someone witnesses a situation that could lead to unrest, or where human rights are violated, we want to be made aware early enough to avoid the situation from escalating," said Olotokumbo Igue, United Nations office of the High Commissioner for human rights, representative in Togo.
    More than 1,174 candidates including 159 women are expected to take part in the July 25 poll.
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