Madagascar: Voting in referendum underway

  1. Posted on Wednesday 17 November 2010 - 10:46
    Sanday
    Image of Sanday
    Sanday Chongo Kabange, AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zambia
    Voting in Madagascar's constitutional referendum opened Wednesday in a calm and orderly environment. The polls that have been widely criticized are meant to kick-start a process aimed at solving the island's political crisis.
    Andry Rajoelina
    In the capital Antananarivo, voters were ready and waiting when polling stations opened at 6:00 am local time.

    “People seem to be taking an interest. There were people already waiting at 6:00 am," said Rija Rakotobe, an official in charge of a polling station in the capital where half a dozen people were queuing up to vote.

    This referendum is the first poll since the March 2009 coup that ousted elected president Marc Ravalomanana and brought the Indian Ocean Island’s current strongman Andry Rajoelina to power.

    It marks the first phase of a process agreed to by Rajoelina and around 100 small political movements to lift the island out of political limbo. The process has however been rejected by the opposition and criticized by the international community.

    Just under eight million voters are eligible to cast their ballots Wednesday.

    SADC and the international community have condemned the former radio deejay’s manoeuvres to legitimize his assumption to power through a coup.

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