Cablegate: Over 800,000 Voters Successfully Registered After Only One
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHLU #1291/01 3540805
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200805Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3541
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 1011
RUEHOR/AMEMBASSY GABORONE 0114
RUEHWD/AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK 4318
RUEHLS/AMEMBASSY LUSAKA 3580
UNCLAS LUANDA 001291
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AO
SUBJECT: Over 800,000 voters successfully registered after only one
month in Angola
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Over 800,000 voters successfully registered during
the first month-long phase of the registration campaign in Angola.
The opening round of registration was hailed a success by both
government and opposition leaders despite a few technical glitches.
In response to civil society concerns, the government is also
developing the system to accredit civil society observers for
registration despite the fact the law does not allow for this. To
date, the GRA is demonstrating its commitment to a transparent
process, and all eyes will be on the next phase of registration,
beginning January 15, to see if the government continues to respond
to concerns raised by the opposition and civil society. END SUMMARY
Angolans "thirsty" to register
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2. (SBU) The first phase of voter registration concluded on December
15th, registering over 800,000 potential voters in the first month.
This falls shy of the goal of 1 million registrations, but observers
consider the shortfall the result of technical glitches rather than
lack of voter interest. Turnout was above expectations in Luanda,
Benguela, and Huambo, where brigades registered an average of 250
people per day. Over 189,000 potential voters were registered in
Luanda alone. Opposition supervisors, or "fiscais" stated that the
registration process was `going well' and that voters were "thirsty"
to register.
3. (SBU) Lines were long but orderly at the country's 285
registration stations during the final days of the first phase.
Glitches in the technology-heavy registration system continued to
slow the process, but efficiency improved dramatically as system
familiarity increased. Average time to process a registration fell
from 20 minutes to 8 minutes. Printer problems are now the major
source of processing delays, and broken printers have been known to
shut registration stations altogether. The theft of computer
systems in Cabinda and Cuando Cubango presented another obstacle for
registration officials.
4. (SBU) Misinformation and lack of information also continued to
affect the registration process. Last-minute crowds formed as word
spread that the registration process was closing altogether, rather
than just for a month. The government launched an information
campaign though television, radio and newspapers to assure citizens
that they will have more time to register, and to clarify
documentary requirements and appropriate selection of witnesses.
Voter registration is mandatory for all citizens over age 18, and
accurate information on the distribution of voters is critical for
election officials to create logistical plans for both national and
local elections.
Opposition and NGOs have praise in general, but...
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5. (SBU) Opposition leaders hailed the registration process and
stated that the brigades were well organized and efficient.
Opposition parties exercised their legal right to observe the
registration process in all registration stations. There were no
reports of violence during the first phase, but opposition leaders
pointed to irregularities which need to be corrected in phase two.
UNITA expressed serious concern over reports that people from
provinces bordering the DRC and Zambia, especially people with
limited Portuguese language skill, had difficulty convincing brigade
agents of their Angolan citizenship despite having the required
documentary proof or witness testimony. At the same time, there
were also reports of DRC and Zambian citizens trying to register as
Angolans to allow them to stay in the country. The Partido
Socialista Angolano (PSA) posted reports of brigade agents
collecting 500 kwanzas (6 dollars) to expedite registrations in
Cazenga, Luanda province. A few opposition leaders opined that the
registration process is going slowly because without a firm election
date the electorate is not motivated. A recent nation-wide poll by
IRI, however, shows 79 percent of the electorate plans to vote in
the elections and almost 60 percent believe that the elections will
be very important to them (septel).
6. (SBU) Electoral NGOs represented by Rede Eleitoral and Plataforma
Eleitoral expressed continuing concern over irregularities in the
process of observer accreditation. (NOTE: The electoral law only
allows established political parties to observe the registration
process, not NGO's. END NOTE). Civil society groups also protested
that the government failed to give ample advance notification of
the registration plan in general, and the accreditation requirements
and process in particular. The situation was further confused when
some Provincial Election Commissions (CEP) accredited observers,
while CEPs in other provinces refused to do so. Both the
Interministerial Commission for the Electoral Process (CIPE) and the
National Electoral Commission (CNE) were criticized for not acting
fast enough to provide firm guidance to the provinces on this
matter.
7. (SBU) The government countered that it was working to create a
system to allow for civil society groups to observe the registration
process, even though the electoral law did not foresee this. The
government has, however, been working with NGOs to accredit
observers and allow for civil society observation. As of 06
December, 44 municipalities in 15 of 18 provinces had accredited
observers. The Government has also allowed foreign missions and
NGO's (IRI and NDI, for example) to observe the registration
process.
8. (SBU) Personnel and accreditation costs put financial pressure on
opposition parties and NGOs. The Rede Eleitoral gave up its
observation efforts in Hula due to lack of funding, and only 2
provinces have funds set aside specifically for observation. Both
groups have expressed grave concerns over their ability to provide
oversight and supervision of the registration process as the
government expands the number of registration brigades. Opposition
parties have announced plans to combine resources to supervise the
registration process in all locations, but funding for civil society
observers remains a concern.
9. (SBU) COMMENT: The successful completion of the first phase of
voter registration bodes well for the rest of the process and the
elections. Given the opposition's overall support of the process
and the slow but steady increase in the number of accredited
observers, glitches seem to have been growing pains not acts of bad
faith. The government also seems to be making a good faith effort
to hold as transparent a process as possible. The real test will be
how the lessons learned during phase one help mold phase two of
registration. CIPE will announce its strategy for phase two in
early January and will likely continue increasing the number of
registration brigades, focusing in particular on mobile registration
brigades for rural areas. END COMMENT.
FERNANDEZ