Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region

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The Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO) is a culmination of three years of hard work and involved a great deal of research and consultation in the region. It was adopted at a regional conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa on 6 November 2003 under the auspices of both our organisations where more than 100 electoral stakeholders from SADC were present. These participants came from all the 14 SADC countries and represented Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) and leading civil society organisations (CSOs) for whom election observation is a core activity. As practitioners in the field of elections, both EMBs and CSOs have grappled with the demanding task of ensuring the delivery of credible, free and legitimate elections in their respective countries in the absence of a standard tool with which they could measure their success or otherwise.

ECF and EISA are proud to have developed these guidelines for running a professional and legitimate election. In addition, these election principles will serve as benchmarks on the basis of which the observation, monitoring and assessment of elections in the SADC region will be based from 2004 and beyond. They cover the whole period before, during and after the poll. PEMMO also provides guidelines on the conduct observers during the electoral process. It is anticipated that, beyond election management, monitoring and observation, the PEMMO will inform and inspire post-election reviews and election reforms in all the countries in the SADC region.
absorbed in the pemmo

The production of PEMMO is yet another significant step in the region's democratisation process. Let us all commit ourselves to striving towards meeting the principles recommended in this document and our region can only benefit from it. Our gratitude goes to all the representatives of EMBs and CSOs who took part in the process and to members of the Task Team charged with the responsibility of consulting widely and drafting the initial version of the document.

gloria somolekae, sir ketumile masire & denis kadima

We hope that the PEMMO will be useful beyond the SADC region and that organisations and individuals from other parts of the African Continent will adapt it to their own circumstances. It has now been launched in numerous countries in Africa, including Botswana, South Africa, DR Congo, Mauritius, Madagascar, Namibia and Zanzibar.