EISA Regional Observer Mission to the Zambia 2006 Tripartite Elections

Launch

EISA hereby launches its Regional Election Observer Mission for the upcoming Tripartite Elections due to be held in Zambia on 28 September, 2006. Leading the delegation is Mr Abel Leshele Thoahlane, Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission of Lesotho. The mission will be composed of 15 members drawn from civil society organisations, election management bodies and academic institutions from various SADC countries, namely Namibia, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa and Angola.

The mission's assessment will be based on the EISA/ECF Principles on Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO) which were launched in Zambia on 24 March 2006. It should be recalled that these principles, which were adopted in November 2003, were drafted in consultation with all Electoral Commissions in the SADC region as well as Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who work in the elections field. PEMMO gives the region an objective basis in terms of which to conduct and assess elections.

The mission is expected to arrive in Zambia on September 21, 2006 in order to hold a series of meetings with election stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), Political Parties, CSOs and academics, ahead of Election Day. The mission will remain in the country until 30 September 2006, after observing the voting and counting processes as well as post-polling activities. The mission will cover selected rural and urban areas in Zambia.

EISA is a regional non-governmental organisation established in 1996, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Its mission is to strengthen electoral processes, good governance, human rights and democratic values in the SADC region and beyond through research, capacity building, advocacy and other targeted interventions. The Institute services governments, electoral commissions, political parties, civil society organisations and other institutions operating in the democracy and governance fields in the SADC region and beyond.

Issued by EISA