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Need
for upright candidates, says OPA The OPA has pointed out that political leaders should take note when nominating candidates as it is an important exercise. "The leaders should act upon stringent guidelines to reflect that candidates nominated are worthy of representing the people. In the past, political parties have nominated candidates even with criminal backgrounds and persons who have been accused of bribery, corruption, nepotism, misuse of public property and abuse of power". The Organisation points out that the chosen candidates must be committed to the development of the country and not the self. "Persons with integrity who have demonstrated soundness of moral principles in behaviour and free from moral wrong or guilt should be nominated. The candidates must be upright, veracious, honest and straight forward", the statement said. While the OPA accepts that it is a difficult task for any political party to choose such persons, the Organisation stresses the need that a party should not nominate persons who are guilty of violating such principles. Noting that the quality of those elected has been extremely poor the Organisation has urged the political parties to obtain a declaration from each candidate. The declaration should consist of educational qualifications and profession, assets and liabilities, pending criminal cases if any, pending investigations or charges if any and the declaration to abide by the election laws and other laws during the election campaign. In the conduct of the polls the OPA calls on the parties to refrain from using public resources and honour the right of the people to choose their representatives without fear, intimidation, bribery or corruption. In the post-election period the OPA has appealed to all those elected to agree to a common agenda and arrive at a consensus to rebuild the country. |
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