SUDAN: More Men than Women Register in Rumbek

November 17, 2010 (RUMBEK) – Voter registration centers in Rumbek, the capital of Lakes state, have recorded a low female turn out despite more people registering on the second day.

On Tuesday, staff at Matangai, Achol-theen, Malual-bab and Rumbek Freedom Square voter registration centers told Sudan Tribune that they had witnessed a low female turn out.

At Matangai center, Victoria Alek, said that there had been a low female turnout since registration began on Monday November 15. The process will end on December 1 before South Sudan votes on independence in January. Lakes State has around 215 registration centers.

Alek appealed to women to double their efforts to turnout for registration despite some having to travel long distances.

She said that women have more household work to do than men and do not have the same amount of free time to enable them to register.

Malual Bab Centre located at Rumbek Freedom Square had a long queues of both male and female voters on Wednesday.

Anthony Makuach, a student at Southern Sudan Institute of Education in Rumbek expressed joy his at receiving his registration card, saying he will take great care of it.

Makuach said “I am very happy to see our freedom is coming; our people will be free from corner to corner - I will take care of this registration card not to lose until I vote for [an] independent South Sudan”.

A supervisor at Matangai Registration Centre, Peter Mour Anyar, said lack of information in rural areas had caused the low turnout of women.

Anyar further said that radio messages were not enough as many people do not own radio.

He urged the government to employ sound systems mounted on vehicles to move around remote villages and inform people about the ongoing registration exercise.

Many of those who have turned up for registration on the first days of the 17-day exercise have told Sudan Tribune that they will vote for separation of country.

Josephine Awal Abraham, a pupil at Comboni Primary School in Rumbek echoed this sentiment saying the aim of registering was to achieve freedom as a Southern Sudanese by voting for separation. She urged those who have not yet registered to do so in order to take part in the referendum scheduled of 9 January 2011.

Fr. John Mathiang, a diocesan priest for Rumbek Diocese, said the referendum to determine their future will give identity to Southern Sudanese and bringing about a just society.

He described the exercise as “a national duty” saying “if you have a heart belonging to this country”, be registered and vote at the referendum.