As the Papua New Guinea election process nears , the Prime Minister, James Marape, has called for peace and order.
The election writs, which were to be issued today, have been put back another week.
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape. Photo: PNG PM Media
More than 200 people died in tribal violence during the 2017 General Election and Mr Marape says there will be zero tolerance this time.
He said voters, especially women, must be allowed to vote on their own conscience and must not be coerced into voting for a particular candidate.
A campaigner hoping to see more women in the Papua New Guinea parliament said she was optimistic there would be more women elected in this election.
A record number of women candidates is expected this year.
Only seven women have been elected to the PNG parliament in nearly 50 years of its existence and none are in the current parliament.
Dame Carol Kidu - who was a cabinet minister for three terms - is confident women will do well this time.
But she said politics in PNG is now much tougher than her time, dominated by "big men and money" and that excludes many women candidates.
"They just don't have the logistical support they need to get out there. Some of them have been really walking the talk for several months now, walking the mountains and things. And they certainly deserve to win and they have the capacity to do a good job in there if they can adapt to parliament."
Photo: RNZI / Daniela Maoate-Cox
Australian and Indian assistance
A total of 118 seats will be contested, including seven new ones recently created by parliament.
Australia has assisted PNG with the printing and delivery of ballot papers, and India has supplied the indelible ink for voters.
Mr Marape reminded people that life imprisonment is now the maximum penalty for illegal usage and ownership of firearms.
This was amendment brought in the recently passed Firearms Amendment bill, which was unanimously supported by MPs.
