South Africa is giving ballot boxes, ballot booths, indelible ink, and many other voting materials to Burundi to assist them in holding a free and fair referendum next week, the Foreign Affairs Department said on Monday.
This was at the request of Burundi’s Independent Electoral Commission, said departmental spokesperson Lakela Kaunda.
She said 14 000 ballot booths, 7 000 ballot boxes, 7 000 batches of indelible ink, 3 500 stationery packs, 3 500 stamps, stamp pads and ink, 28 000 security seals, and 4 000 clear security bags would be dispatched on Tuesday to the country, which has been struggling to emerge from a ten-year conflict.
The referendum was the first step towards democratic elections in the country, which should be held in 2005, Kaunda said.
She said Burundians would be voting to adopt the current transitional Constitution, developed after a ceasefire agreement between the government and Hutu rebel groups in 2002.
One other rebel group continues to refuse to participate in the peace process, and the country therefore remains unstable.
”The South African government reiterates its commitment to assisting the leadership of Burundi achieve and consolidate peace, stability and security the country,” Kaunda said.
The referendum will take place on December 22.
About 200 000 Burundians died in ethnic violence between Hutu’s
and Tutsi’s since 1993. – Sapa