Spotlight: Africa's democratic future bright after winners, losers accept poll results

Sunday's peaceful conduct of different electoral contests in six African countries, and the subsequent acceptance of the results by both winners and losers is a pointer to a bright future for democracy on the continent.

Of the six countries, Benin and Niger were holding a presidential run-off poll, whereas the Republic of Congo held the first round of the presidential elections.

On the other hand, Cape Verde held legislative elections while Senegal was holding a constitutional referendum to allow citizens determine whether to maintain the current seven-year presidential term mandate or reduce it to five years.

Meanwhile, voters in Zanzibar went back to the polls after the results of presidential and parliamentary elections held on Oct. 25, 2015 were nullified by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) over vote rigging allegations.

In the run-up to the elections, the African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma called for smooth, peaceful, transparent and credible polls in the six AU member states.

She further urged aggrieved parties in any of the elections to use appropriate channels to address their concerns to maintain peace and stability.

TIMELY AND ACCEPTABLE OFFICIAL RESULTS

Unlike in previous elections on the continent when the announcement of results took longer periods, final results in most of the six countries were announced within a record 24 hours after the closure of the voting process.

The final results were equally not disputed as both winners and losers accepted the verdict from the ballot box.

Benin

Benin's hotly contested presidential run-off poll was won by businessman Patrice Talon who got 65.39 percent, defeating his challenger, outgoing Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou, who took 34.61 percent.

As the provisional results started streaming in showing an unassailable lead by Talon, Zinsou conceded defeat and acknowledged his opponent's electoral victory.

"I have called Patrice Talon this evening to congratulate him on his victory, wish him good luck and put myself at his disposal to prepare for the handover," Zinsou said.

The conclusion of the electoral process will see a democratically elected president sworn in to replace the outgoing President Boni Yayi who has served a maximum two-five year terms.

His peaceful exit from power marks him out from some African leaders who have tried to change their country's constitutions to stay in power.

Zanzibar

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Monday declared incumbent Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein winner of the controversial re-run presidential polls in the east African archipelago after he had garnered 91.4 percent of Sunday's repeat polls.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli congratulated Shein for the landslide victory, saying the victory showed that people in Zanzibar still trusted him.

He also thanked Zanzibaris for conducting peaceful elections, adding that his government will work closely with the government of Zanzibar.

Despite the boycott of the re-run by the main opposition party, Civic United Front (CUF), which claimed it won the Oct. 25 elections, peace prevailed after the announcement of the results.

Speaking on behalf of opposition parties that took part in the elections, Hamad Rashid who contested the elections on the ticket of the Alliance for Democratic Change, conceded defeat and congratulated Shein for his victory.

Senegal

In Senegal, the electoral commission announced Monday the final tally of the referendum vote, showing that majority of voters in 43 out of the country's 45 departments supported the "YES" side.

The "YES" camp which was led by President Macky Sall, sought constitutional reforms to reduce the presidential term mandate from seven to five years.

Other reforms included limiting presidential terms to two, increasing powers of parliament, increasing the people's power over their land, election of a member of parliament for Senegalese nationals in the diaspora as well as creation of a position of official opposition leader.

Cape Verde

The peaceful legislative elections in Cape Verde saw the main opposition Movement for Democracy (MpD) party win parliamentary elections with 53.7 percent against 37 percent for the former ruling African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV).

The results which were announced on Monday, returned MpD party to power after 15 years.

A presidential election is due to be held later this year though the date has not been fixed.

Niger

Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou was on Tuesday declared the winner of the presidential run-off poll with 92.5 percent of the votes cast, against around 7 percent for his main challenger Hama Amadou who, however, campaigned from behind bars after being detained in November last year on baby-trafficking charges.

Although the opposition, which boycotted the run-off poll, said the turnout was only 11 percent across the country, official estimates put participation at 56 percent.

Republic of Congo

Head of Republic of Congo's National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) Henri Bouka on Tuesday released the first provisional results of the March 20 presidential elections which placed incumbent President Denis Sassou N'Guesso in the lead with 67.02 percent.

However, the CENI boss said the results were based on tallies received from 72 out of 111 electoral constituencies in the country.

The results, he was quick to add, did not include that of Pointe Noire, the commercial capital and opposition stronghold.

N'Guesso had promised his supporters first round victory, which the opposition disputed.

The United Nations has appealed for calm, and urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to resolve the disputes that may arise through dialogue and established legal procedures." Endit