News: NEBE announces Sidama referendum day to be a day off
Addis Abeba November 16/2019 – The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) announced that all businesses, government offices, schools and non-governmental organizations in Sidama zone including Hawassa city are to be closed on the day of the referendum to allow everyone to vote. The day of the referendum falls on a Wednesday which would hamper people from voting due to their work duties, the NEBE said. The measure is also to make sure the referendum process that has not had any security issues to date is peaceful to the end, added the NEBE.
The NEBE has asked all stakeholders working in the zone and the city of Hawassa to observe and enforce this decision.
The Sidama statehood referendum is scheduled to be held on the 20th of November, 2019. AS
