Serving Liberia through the ballot box

Liberia's presidential election is now likely to be held in October as a proposed delay until November fell short in a referendum amid fears of mounting tensions. Speaking to Vatican Radio, the Archbishop of Monrovia, Lewis Joerome Zeigler, says the best way to serve the country is through the ballot box.

The August 23 referendum, seen by many as a dry run for Liberia's second post war election, saw a low turnout and tens of thousands of spoilt ballots but there were no reports of violence.

Earlier in the month the Catholic bishops appealed to citizens to look at the forthcoming elections in the West African nation as a crucial moment in its democratic development. In a pastoral letter, the bishops called on Liberians to make a careful examination of the social reality of the nation and to reflect on their hopes and aspirations, in the light of Catholic social teaching.

“Our country Liberia is trying desperately to enshrine the democratic process. To do this, we must each understand the meaning of democracy so as to be able to exercise our franchise wisely and contribute significantly to entrenching good governance in our country, Liberia,” the bishops wrote.

Liberians voted on August 23 in a referendum to change four clauses in the constitution and are to vote in general and presidential elections in October or November this year depending on the outcome of the referendum.

The three bishops of Liberia said the upcoming elections are crucial to the stability of Liberia as a nation and they will also serve as a testimony to the democratic maturity of the people of Liberia, the bishop said in the pastoral letter titled: “We Can Serve Ourselves Best Through the Ballot Box.”

For this reason, they called on the citizens of the nation, which has just emerged from a brutal 14-year civil war to understand the meaning of democracy and to go beyond party, ethnic and other interest group affiliation and elect candidates that will serve the nation and not their personal interests. The choice should be based on informed decisions they said, adding that “Liberians should be loyal to the country first before being loyal to individuals.”

In the second part of the pastoral Letter, the bishops made an assessment of the social challenges the country is facing at present. They include: poverty, ethnicity, ritual killings, illiteracy, and corruption. The bishops said these ills in society can be overcome if Liberians work together as one people and if they nurture hope in their country and in God’s saving power.

They urged citizens who are eligible to vote to exercise that right and duty during the coming elections and elect people who have the nation at heart.

The letter, signed by Archbishop of Monrovia Lewis Joerome Zeigler, Bishop Andrew Jagaye Karnley of Cape Palmas and Bishop of Gbarnga, Anthony Fallah Borwah concluded by entrusting the nation to Mary, the mother of God. To help Liberians understand the issues discussed, the bishops offered some questions for discussion and reflection at the end of the 10-page document.

Listen to Festus Tarawalie’s full interview with the Archbishop of Monrovia Lewis Joerome Zeigler: