“It is a good thing for our democracy that more and more politicians have publicised their ambition to be prime minister. However, our current electoral system unfortunately favours a confrontation between two blocks.”

A new alliance was finally cobbled up encompassing the Labour Party, MMM and PMSD. They took their first test last week at Mare d’Albert. A Tsunami according to supporters; a flop according to the prime minister. We talk to one of the major stalwarts of the MMM, Reza Uteem, about the expectations, concerns and fears of people in relation to the alliance.

The first acid test was passed this week. Were surprised by the crowds that showed up to your first meeting?
We were all pleasantly surprised with the high turnout and enthusiasm of the crowd. Most people used their own mode of transport to attend. There was a huge traffic jam and I have had to leave my car and walk almost a kilometre to reach the venue in time.  You could feel that our supporters had been waiting a long time for this historic moment.

They may have been waiting but some are worried that the newly-weds are so different from each other that the alliance may not last…Don’t you share those worries?
During my speech I made an analogy with the oil spill of MV Wakashio. You will recall how we all came together to clean up our shore, to contain the oil spill and save our environment. We did so as true patriots because we simply could not sit back and watch government’s criminal incompetence. Well it is the same patriotic vibes which brought us together in this alliance; the same desire to save our beloved nation from the grips of a despotic, incompetent and corrupt government.

We know that the manifesto is still work in progress and the most important thing – the sharing of candidatures – hasn’t been finalised yet. So what exactly has been agreed on so far?
A committee has been set up consisting of six members of each party. We have already had two working sessions and we are making good progress. There is a real desire for change and to come up with a new social contract for a better Mauritius, more democratic, more transparent, more effective. We need to restore confidence in our institutions, bring economic measures to encourage production, contain inflation, create jobs and ensure a more equitable distribution of income. We will need the help of everyone. We owe it to our country. We owe it to our children and coming generations.

Will the manifesto address the important issue of the MPs’ salaries and pensions for example so that people who go into politics do not do so for the wrong reasons?
Everything is up for discussion. We need to have the right people at the right place. We need to attract clean and competent patriots to fill each position of responsibility. And the same goes for MPs and ministers. We need a code of conduct for parliamentarians and ministers. Politicians who abuse their power and position should be sanctioned. Unfortunately, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, despite the legal arsenal and huge financial means at its disposal, has lamentably failed to bring anyone close to this government to justice.

You have not answered the question: is any party thinking of proposing halving ministers’ and MPs’ salaries and putting an end to the ridiculous pension for life they enjoy?
We have not yet discussed the issue of salary and pension at the level of the committee. We have met only twice and there is still way to go before we present our electoral manifesto.

“The Judas and funders are already at work preying on the weaknesses of some of our colleagues and desperately promising the moon and stars.”

Your slogan of getting rid of this government sounds like something easy to achieve. But even your own supporters are worried about the tricks the MSM might use to counterattack your alliance. Are you as worried?
I am not worried about the dirty tricks and money politics of the MSM. We know what to expect. We are already seeing the fake news. It’s a sign of panic! The Judas and funders are already at work preying on the weaknesses of some of our colleagues and desperately promising the moon and stars. But the vast majority of voters have already made up their mind. The wind of change is blowing.

All this is very nice but nothing has been done to make sure we have free, fair and credible elections this time. What is the point of organising meetings if at the end of the day, the polls do not translate our wishes?
Even before we announced the alliance, the three parties had worked on a series of proposals to ensure a better, more efficient and transparent electoral process which we submitted to the Electoral Commissioner’s Office. We also had a meeting with the electoral commissioner and his staff and the commissioner agreed to our main proposal of allowing electors to be registered even after the writ of elections have been published and same day counting. But we will need legislative change to implement these reforms.

Exactly. And it is clear that Pravind Jugnauth will not agree to make that change. Then what?
The PM did not categorically oppose same day counting. In answer to the PNQ of the leader of the opposition, he said that he is chairing a ministerial committee to consider all these issues. We had same day counting for village council elections and elections for Rodrigues Regional Assembly. There is no reason why we should not have same day counting for general elections as is the case in most democracies around the globe.

The prime minister says we don’t have the resources to do that…
I beg to differ. It’s not a matter of resources. It’s a matter of political will.

What’s the point of having same day counting if we can’t have same place counting? What will that change if the ballot papers have to be transported to another place, allowing time to change whatever one wants?
If we count the ballot in the same room as the votes were cast, it would be easy to identify which group of people voted for which candidate or party. The secrecy of the vote will be affected and there can be negative repercussion for the group which did not vote for government’s candidates. This is why ballots from each polling centres are currently mixed together before they are counted for each constituency.

Yet another prime ministerial candidate was reborn last week to increase those vying for that position to an unprecedented number. Won’t all this spoil the day for you?
Actually, I think that it is a good thing for our democracy that more and more politicians have publicised their ambition to be prime minister. However, our current electoral system unfortunately favours a confrontation between two blocks.  Mauritians are used to “vote utile” and candidates of smaller parties seldom if ever get back their deposit (caution) back.

Some swathes of the population are asking for a larger coalition of the opposition to make sure the government doesn’t have any chance of escaping. Does that look likely as things stand?
Our doors are wide open for anyone who sincerely wants to help his country. We should not underestimate the daunting task that lies ahead of us. We will need the help of each and every one to get the economy back on solid grounds. We will need clean and competent patriots at the helm of all institutions, public bodies and government owned enterprises. Together we can do it. Together we will do it!