by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – SOUTH Africa’s Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) has called for investigations into alleged malpractices during the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) elections held in Mauritius.
ISPA alleged “serious problems” including individuals arriving with more than 800 purported Powers of Attorney for AFRINIC members and a duly-authorised representative of a resource holder attempting to vote, only to be informed that another person had already submitted a vote on their behalf thanks to a Power of Attorney, which that resource holder had not provided to any third party.
“There have been multiple additional reports from other organisations around Africa that individuals appear to have voted on their behalf based on seemingly fraudulent Powers of Attorney,” ISPA stated.
ISPA believes these concerns were drawn to the attention of the Chairs of AFRINIC’s Nominations and Elections Committees during the course of voting on Monday this week.
While the Chairperson of the Nominations Committee did eventually “suspend” voting, ISPA said it had become abundantly clear that the option for unlimited in-person voting based on unverified Powers of Attorney has opened up the AFRINIC election to manipulation and potential fraud.
Consequently, ISPA’s attorney opened a criminal case with the Mauritian police on Monday evening.
ISPA calls upon AFRINIC and the Official Receiver to cooperate fully with the police investigation, nullify the “suspended” election and to publish a full list of the organisations on whose behalf Powers of Attorney were submitted to AFRINIC.
It wants election guidelines and mechanisms reviewed.
AFRINIC has since annulled the results.
“We are committed to resolving this transparently and fairly, building a stronger AFRINIC for all,” it stated.
Formed in 2004, AFRINIC is Africa’s internet registry.
– CAJ News