Kenya ‘a beacon of democracy’ in East Africa, says expert
Mauritius: As the country gears up for its landmark general election next month, a US presidential election expert has hailed the first free and fair polls in East Africa.
Anjali Raman, an expert on democracy at the National University of Singapore, said in an interview to coincide with the elections, the elections in Mauritius are a beacon of democracy in East Africa.”
Anjali Raman, an expert on democracy at the National University of Singapore, said in an interview to coincide with the elections, the elections in Mauritius are a beacon of democracy in East Africa.”
She said: “In East Africa we have elections at the national level of elections, of course, in some sub-national levels such as counties, districts, cities, and some municipalities, but at the national level of elections.
“So, I’m not saying that elections are always free and fair, but I would say that in Mauritius in elections in their elections there have been free and fair elections.”
The election is in a presidential election, with President Michel Martelly standing for re-election.
A new poll was conducted earlier this month by the Mauritius Academy of Political Studies and Public Administration.
The opinion poll had a question asking voters what is the most important election they would like to see take place in the country.
A total of 1,965 respondents were polled in the three cities of Kasmira, Samaai and Port Louis.
Raman said that as many as 20 per cent of those polled said they want a president, while 35 per cent said they want a prime minister.
The remaining respondents said they wanted a leader of the opposition, a leader of the majority ethnic group, or a leader of the majority religion, she said.
“And what did we find out? Well, when you analyze the votes in the various areas, it turns out that the majority of the votes went to people from the minority ethnic group, almost all the votes went to people from the majority ethnic group, and only 14 votes went to those who supported the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, or the leader of the majority religion,” Raman said.
She said: “So, it is the majority who are supporting the electoral system, it’s the minority who are supporting the government.”
Raman is
