By WIFAH J. NDE
Field findings carried out by Charmers Media and Communication Consults, CHAMECC have revealed that the lack of political good will for positive change in the country today coupled with the absence of romance between electorates and politicians and mistrust in the electoral system have greatly fueled voter apathy in the country.
The findings were made possible with the support of participants of a six months project dubbed: Strengthening the Media, Civil Society Organisations, Political Parties, People Living with Disabilities, Women and Youth for Impartial and Free Election Process in the Northwest Region, during the upcoming 2018 Elections in Cameroon sponsored by Africa Regional Democracy Fund Program, ARDF and implemented by CHAMECC.
The project which is in its final phase has been characterised by a series of workshops with the various stakeholders and the participation of an average of 30 persons per workshop during which experiences were shared, shortfalls dissected and recommendations made to attempt solutions to the field realities.
Of the average 30 participants per workshop, a spill over effect of over 5.000 persons impacted with results of the workshops was registered as participants later spread the messages to their associations, peers and media campaigns made.
The identified causes of voter apathy, some of which mentioned above, were communicated to members of political parties, other social associations, government institutions where their attention is needed and the international community with hope for an eventual change.
Participants were equally exalted to transmit the message as much as possible to their respective communities in order to bring down the voter apathy syndrome to its barest minimum in favour of civic and participatory development in the advancement of Cameroon’s democracy.