The Western Equatoria State government, in collaboration with the State High Elections Committee (SHEC), on Monday launched a two-day induction training for constituency returning officers and assistant constituency returning officers in Yambio.
The training is intended to equip the officials with the knowledge and skills needed to coordinate electoral activities and support preparations for the forthcoming elections across the state.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Western Equatoria State Caretaker Governor Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing security and logistical support for the electoral process.
Rimbasa also pledged to facilitate electricity connectivity by Tuesday to support the committee’s operations.
He urged participants to take the training seriously and pass on the knowledge and skills acquired to other electoral personnel in their respective constituencies through a Training of Trainers (ToT) approach.
The governor said the officials had an important role in strengthening electoral preparations at the grassroots level by sharing their knowledge and training other personnel in their communities.
He said the people of South Sudan had waited a long time for an opportunity to elect their leaders, adding that the national leadership had resolved to give citizens the chance to choose their representatives through the ballot.
SHEC Chairperson Simon Bakama said the two-day training was designed to prepare constituency returning officers and their assistants for their responsibilities ahead of the forthcoming electoral activities.
Bakama said the training would provide participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to coordinate electoral activities, support registration officers and ensure that personnel assigned to designated registration centres were adequately prepared for their duties.
He added that the officials would also be responsible for supporting and training registration officers in their respective constituencies and counties to strengthen the voter registration process.
The officials are expected to serve across Western Equatoria State’s 10 counties: Yambio, Nzara, Ibba, Maridi, Mvolo, Mundri East, Mundri West, Ezo, Tambura and Nagero.
The training is expected to strengthen the capacity of electoral personnel and improve coordination of electoral activities across the state ahead of the forthcoming elections.
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