Project synthesis<>

The holding of regular, free, fair and legitimate elections is a major feature of  a democratic society. The SADC region (Southern African Development Community) has made significant strides in the last decade in the democratisation process. In 2004, three of the five countries who hold elections have elected new heads of state (<>Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia), a visible demonstration of a democratic culture.

Nonetheless, the region has witnessed the high costs of conflicts having arisen as a result of disputes about the legitimacy of the process and the outcome. The presence of credible observer missions helps to promote democratisation through providing third party validation of the electoral process; providing assistance and recommendations; building confidence in the electoral process itself; and strengthening democratic institutions and promoting greater trust in them.

Under the guidance of EISA and in partnership with the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries, Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO) have been developed through a region-wide consultative process and adopted in November 2003 by all the 14 SADC Election Management Bodies.

The PEMMO standards, in contrast to a reliance on generalized terms such as “free and fair” offers a sophisticated and rigorous instrument to guide and measure progress. It provides a tool for evaluation to assist regional election observer missions. It is therefore anticipated that this would allow the reduction of the kind of confusion that prevailed during earlier elections, caused by assessing the elections on the basis of subjective criteria.

Strategy/Objectives

The overall objective of the project is to help to entrench the Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO) through its use by civil society groups at both domestic and regional levels, to encourage the assessment of elections from a clear and objective basis. A further objective is to introduce the document to all electoral stakeholders including Electoral Management Bodies and political parties, in all the countries having elections,in order to ensure its prior acceptability as a comprehensive and objective assessment tool.

The PEMMO addresses the following major factors:

The need for a comprehensive constitutional and legal framework; the importance of transparent and accessible pre-election procedures (including the delimitation, voter registration and candidate nomination processes); the equitable use of the media and public resources; the organisation and administration of the election phase and counting phases in a way that does not unreasonably disadvantage others; the post election phase, including how to ensure acceptability of results as well as the settlement of election disputes; election observation and monitoring, including a code of conduct for election observers.

The project will directly contribute to and supplement the ongoing second phase of the capacity building project to the SADC Election Support Network (see EISA / ESN).

Stakeholders and Beneficiaries

All electoral stakeholders of the ten countries holding elections from 2004 to 2006 are PEMMO’s primary beneficiaries. The ultimate beneficiaries, however, are the people, as it is anticipated, that this would contribute to democratic consolidation in the SADC region through sharing of common democratic values and benchmarks throughout the region.

Partner

EISA is a non-governmental, not for profit organisation, established in 1996, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Its mission is to strengthen electoral processes, good governance, human rights and democratic values through research, capacity building, advocacy and other targeted interventions. The Institute has built an internationally recognized center for policy, research and information. It provides this service to governments, electoral commissions, political parties, civil society organisations and other institutions operating in the democracy and governance fields throughout the SADC region and beyond.

EISA initiated the establishment of the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC countries, which consists of all the 14 electoral commissions, and the civil society SADC Electoral Support Network (SADC ESN).

Project duration and Funding

SDC is supporting the implementation of this project starting from July 2004 and ending in December 2006. SDC contribution of 1’300’000 CHF is representing approximately 30 % of the overall budget of 21’841’000 Rand.

Geographical area

The project will be implemented in the countries holding elections in the period 2004 – 2006: In Botswana, Mozambique, and Namibia; in 2005 in Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Tanzania; in 2006 in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The elections in South Africa and Malawi have already been held by the time of the beginning of SDC’s support. (s. EISA ESN).

Contact address

The Electoral Institute of Southern Africa EISA

14 Park Road ∙ Richmond ∙ 2092

P.O. Box 740 ∙ Auckland Park 2006

Johannesburg South Africa

Phone (+2711) 482 5495

Fax (+2711) 482 6163

Email: eisa@eisa.org.za

Website: www.eisa.org.za