Director of Electoral Services at the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Serebour Quaicoe, has criticised policy think tank IMANI Africa for its approach to addressing issues concerning state institutions.
He argued that their tendency to criticise state institutions without providing substantiated information, which ultimately undermines these entities, is a concerning trend that impedes state development.
Dr. Quaicoe dismissed IMANI Africa’s allegations that the EC auctioned off 10 out of 70,000 devices, labelling such claims as unfounded and advising the public to disregard them.
Speaking on Newsfile on JoyNews, Dr. Quaicoe cautioned that if IMANI does not exercise caution in its statements, it risks losing its credibility and transitioning into a mere “talk tank” rather than a think tank.
During the interview, Samson Lardy Anyenini inquired, “IMANI asked the question that you had said that you auctioned only 10 out of over 70,000 devices. Why 10? They also said they had been relying on documents from parliament because you deal with them.”
Responding to the allegations, Dr. Serebour Quaicoe challenged, “I want to know which document said we had auctioned 10 devices. We should be careful not to destroy institutions in the country without just cause.
“If you rely on the information on the internet to draw conclusions at the end of the day, you will be exposed… My concern is that I know IMANI to be a think tank. If care is not taken, they will become a talk tank.”
The Electoral Commission (EC) has come under scrutiny following reports alleging that some of its electoral devices were sold through auction.