By Frank Kamuntu
Burundi, a landlocked East African country with 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and one death, seems to be unshaken by the pandemic after that is seriously claiming human life globally; they have moved ahead with the presidential elections scheduled in May.
Guidelines being implemented globally to curb Coronavirus (COVID-19) which include social distancing, staying home among others appear to be minor for Burundians who are deeply involved in the race to elect the next president.
Sources in Bujumbura reveal that government authorities early this week proclaimed that God will protect Burundians from the deadly novel Coronavirus.
Burundi’s presidential, legislative and municipal elections are scheduled for May 20 2020. Seven candidates launched campaigns on Monday, with huge rallies that are off limits in other parts of Africa, where governments are mandating that people practice social distancing to curtail the spread of the virus.
Nkurunziza, who is stepping down from power and is apparently shunning measures to slow the spread of the virus, told supporters at a large rally Monday that he is backing General Evariste Ndayishimiye, the CNDD-FDD’s presidential candidate.
However, it’s not only Burundi planning to hold elections; neighboring Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli is set to do the same and has said the Tanzanian October 2020 general elections will be held as planned.
“There are people who think that the elections will be postponed. Nobody wants to stay in office forever,” he said during an event televised live by state-run Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation.
This comes at a time when Tanzania has so far registered 480 cases of COVID-19 Infections and 19 deaths.
However TheSpy Uganda brings you some African countries that have decided to postpone elections as a way of limiting the spread of the pandemic.
List of postponed elections in Africa.
1. All municipal by-elections and voter registration activities in South Africa (originally planned for March-May 2020).
2. Municipal in elections in Hassi El Ferid, and Jbeniana, Tunisia (originally scheduled for 28-29 March 2020).
3. By-elections for senatorial district in Bayelsa, Imo and Plateau, Nigeria (originally scheduled for March 2020).
4. By-election in ward 16 of Chiredzi rural district council, Zimbabwe (originally scheduled for 4 April 2020).
5. Niamina West Constituency by-election, Gambia (originally scheduled for16 April 2020).
6. Parliamentary election, Ethiopia (originally scheduled for 29 August 2020).
7. By elections, Kenya (originally scheduled for April, June-July 2020).
8. NPP Primary elections, Ghana (originally scheduled for 25 April 2020).
