There has been an inevitable delay in getting the official final count done, and we are seeing more delays. Undesirable, but perhaps a necessity for the most accurate results.

Over the course of the last two days, it has been revealed that errors were made during counting and also during the ballot procedures. As a result, electoral officers are now facing probable charges, and an investigation is underway to see if any electoral official’s ethics were compromised by his or her political beliefs. This is serious.

However, it cannot be taken away from the Office of the Electoral Commission that they are trying their best to provide results that are as accurate as possible. Understandably, Electoral Commissioner Toafelolo John Stanley is under immense pressure. To get the most accurate results, the OEC has had to recount all the votes that were counted on Friday as preliminary votes and then carefully add the special votes and the pre-polling ballots. This must have been done at least twice to tally the counts. This would explain why the delays are happening.

While the OEC takes its time, indications are that the counting may take longer than scheduled. The implications of this will be on the time given to form the incoming government. The Constitution says that parliament has to sit within 45 days after the end of the general elections. The slow count, although necessary, is buying into this time. Following the official count, there could be court cases asking for recounts, and there will definitely be election petitions alleging corrupt practices during the election. That may take two more weeks.

In all of this, what people seem to be forgetting is the need for a new government to be in place so a new budget can be announced and government ministries and their programs can be funded again. The 25 per cent allocation from the 2024/2025 budget will end on 30 September; after that, there is uncertainty about how government work and civil service pay will be financed. A new government also needs to be in place to allow for aid money to be unfrozen. There is a real economic crisis awaiting the nation if the budget is late. 2021 was not far away, and people already know what will happen when the government is formed late.

The leading party may feel that there should be an urgency from the OEC to get things out of the way and perhaps would say they are satisfied with the results so far. While the slow count is unfair, it cannot be helped because the results need to be accurate.

There are also tired bodies out there. The OEC staff involved in the counting process, the police officers guarding the ballots and providing security, the various media teams covering the events, the scrutineers and even those following the results of the count. The OEC workers are working beyond the norms and even in violation of labour laws. Sticking to the norms may lead to even more delays.

The OEC has to be commended for being transparent about its processes, making the elections as free and fair as possible. The OEC has also been accountable by accepting that errors were made. The accuracy of the count cannot be emphasised enough.

The nation looks forward to the end of the count so that the next step can be taken in the electoral process and the next government formed. Time is of the essence, but so is the accuracy of the count.