THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO COMBINED SECOND TO EIGHTH PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS AND INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA 30-34 101,377 87,952 189,329 35-39 80,602 67,508 148,110 40-44 53,926 44,229 98,155 45-49 43,755 33,080 76,835 50-54 39,703 28,191 67,894 55-59 35,013 23,536 58,549 60-64 28,703 20,901 49,604 65-69 22,719 15,457 38,176 70+ 53,961 26,088 80,049 Unknown 4,582 3,554 8,136 Grand Total 674,789 534,539 1,209,287 Source: IEC Report on 2015 elections Registered political parties and independent candidates 109. Section 25(1) of the National Assembly Electoral Act 2011 requires that in order for a political party to contest elections, an application must be made by the party President, Chairman or secretary, supported by at least 500 party members whose names appear on the voters list. Pursuant to this requirement, 24 political parties, 5 of which were newly registered, contested the 2015 elections. 110. Twenty four people registered as Independent candidates in 2015 elections. Civic and voter education 111. Prior to elections, the IEC in collaboration with CSOs engage in civic and voter education with the view to enable IEC staff, political parties and individuals to understand and participate meaningfully in the electoral process. 112. The overall objectives set by the IEC for voter education include: 50

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