interim statement
EISA Observation Mission Zanzibar Presidential, House of Representatives and Local Authority Elections 2005
1 November 2005
1 Introduction
At the invitation of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) EISA deployed a Mission to observe the Zanzibar Presidential, House of Representatives and Local Authority Elections held on the 30 October 2005. This is the Mission's preliminary assessment of the elections and covers the pre-polling, polling, and the early counting stage. However, EISA will continue to follow the process so that the final report can provide a comprehensive assessment of the electoral process, including the announcement of the results.
1.1 About EISA
EISA is a regional organisation which seeks to strengthen and promote electoral processes, good governance and democratic values through research, capacity building and advocacy. The head office is located in Johannesburg, with field offices in Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mozambique. The scope of EISA's work includes the SADC region and beyond.
1.2 Mission Composition
The Mission was composed of 10 members drawn from electoral commissions, civil society organisations and scholars from six SADC countries, namely the DRC, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia. Justice Anastasia Msosa, Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission and an EISA board member, led the Mission. Members of the EISA Mission were present in Zanzibar to observe the elections from 19 October 2005 to 1 November 2005.
1.3 Deployment
After the briefing session, teams were deployed in the field from 21 October 2005. Deployment was as follows:
- two teams on the main island of Unguja, one team covering the Urban, North A and North B district, whilst the other team covered the Urban, Central and South districts of Unguja and
- one team on Pemba island, covering the Wete, Chake Chake, Mkoani and Micheweni districts. The Mission visited 42 voting stations in urban and rural areas throughout the islands.