Smooth voting in Jimi

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
JIMI district’s returning officer Andrew Mak has commended the people for the peaceful polling last Thursday and Friday.
Mak said polling in the remote Jimi district of Jiwaka province went smoothly.
Mak said everyone in the district had their chance to elect leaders of their choice without fear, threats or intimidation from candidates or their supporters.
He said for the very first time, the people went freely into polling booths to vote.
He said people in the remote district understood the importance of the general election and had shown their maturity during polling.
Mak said after polling all ballot boxes were safely air-lifted for counting.
He said an unconfirmed report he released to the media last Thursday of an officer allegedly marking all the ballot papers at Senga rest house was not true.

He said polling at Senga went smoothly, like in other rest houses in the district.
Mak brushed aside the allegation after he made physical check at the rest house.
He appealed to the people of Jimi to wait patiently for counting to take place this week.
Mak appealed to his people not to attack one another over the elections.
He urged them to maintain unity and peace in the district despite supporting different candidates during the election.