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SADC Parliamentary Forum

Website URL: http://www.sadcpf.org

 

Parliament of Malawi, Website

The National Assembly of Malawi is the supreme legislative body of the nation. It is situated on Capital Hill, Lilongwe along Presidential Way. The National Assembly alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all other political bodies in Malawi. At its head is the Speaker of the House who is elected by his or her peers.[2] Since June 2014 the Speaker is Richard Msowoya.

The 1994 Constitution provided for a Senate but Parliament repealed it. Malawi therefore has a unicameral legislature in practice.[2] The National Assembly has 193 Members of Parliament (MPs) who are directly elected in single-member constituencies using the simple majority (or first-past-the-post) system and serve five-year terms.

Current Parliament

The current parliament was inaugurated on 9 June 2014 after the 2014 general election. No party managed to secure a majority in the house. Two by-elections were expected to be held for the Thyolo East and Blantyre North constituencies. Peter Mutharika won the presidential election and therefore could not represent the former constituency, while a Malawi Congress Party candidate died prior to the election in the latter.

List of Speakers

Legislative Council
Name Entered office Left office
Henry Wilcox Wilson 1958 1961
W. Wenban-Smith 1961 1963
Alec Mjuma Nyasulu August 13, 1963 1964
Legislative Assembly
Alec Mjuma Nyasulu 1964 6 July 1964
National Assembly
Alec Mjuma Nyasulu 6 July 1964 1964
Ismail K. Surtee October 27, 1964 ?
Alec Mjuma Nyasulu March 16, ? February 1975
Nelson P.W. Khonje February 11, 1975 March 1987
Mordecai Lungu June 1987 November 1992
Brain Mtawali November 20, 1992 May 1994
Rodwell Munyenyembe June 30, 1994 June 1999
Sam Mpasu July 13, 1999 May 2003
Davis Katsonga May 2003 2004
Rodwell Munyenyembe June 2004 June 2005
Louis Chimango June 2005 June 2009
Henry Chimunthu Banda June 2009 May 2014
Richard Msowoya June 2014 Present

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Assembly_(Malawi)

 

 

 

The National Assembly of Lesotho is composed of one-hundred and twenty elected members. Eighty members are directly elected from constituencies and the other forty are elected through proportional representation. There is a Speaker who is elected by members of the National Assembly.

No member of the National Assembly can participate in its deliberations without first taking the Oath of Allegiance. Members making their maiden speeches, which are expected to be short and not controversial, are not interrupted and are generally given an enthusiastic applause by drumming the chambers’ tables vigorously.

The Speaker’s chair, overlooks the entire Assembly. The seating plan is U-shaped. The government side sits on the right of the Speaker with the Prime Minister and Cabinet occupying the front-benches while the other members of the ruling party occupy the back-benches of the same side. This seating plan is mirrored by the main opposition party with its leader and shadow cabinet on the left of the Speaker.

Parliament is housed in a colonial building which is about one hundred years old constructed early in the last century.

When a constituency-elected member of the National Assembly vacates a seat, arrangements are made to have a by-election. When a member elected on the basis of proportional representation vacates a seat, the Speaker of the National Assembly has power to appoint the next person on the Party List to effect a replacement.

 

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Constituency PR Total
  Democratic Congress 218,573 38.37 37 10 47 –1
  All Basotho Convention 215,022 37.75 40 6 46 +16
  Lesotho Congress for Democracy 56,467 9.91 2 10 12 –14
  Basotho National Party 31,508 5.53 1 6 7 +2
  Popular Front for Democracy 9,829 1.73 0 2 2 –1
  Reformed Congress of Lesotho 6,731 1.18 0 2 2 New
  National Independent Party 5,404 0.95 0 1 1 –1
  Marematlou Freedom Party 3,413 0.60 0 1 1 0
  Basutoland Congress Party 2,721 0.48 0 1 1 0
  Lesotho People's Congress 1,951 0.34 0 1 1 0
  Basotho Democratic National Party 1,901 0.33 0 0 0 –1
  All Democratic Cooperation 1,689 0.30 0 0 0 0
  Basotho Batho Democratic Party 1,285 0.23 0 0 0 –1
  Hamore Democratic Party 1,265 0.22 0 0 0 New
  Baena 1,259 0.22 0 0 0 New
  Lekhotla La Mekhoa le Moetlo 1,008 0.18 0 0 0 0
  Community Freedom Movement 941 0.17 0 0 0 New
  Progressive Democrats 751 0.13 0 0 0 New
  Basotho African National Congress 582 0.10 0 0 0 New
  Lesotho Workers' Party 577 0.10 0 0 0 –1
  Tsebe Social Democrats 531 0.09 0 0 0 New
  African Unity Movement 390 0.07 0 0 0 0
  White Horse Party 174 0.03 0 0 0 0
  Independents 5,651 0.99 0 0 0
Invalid/blank votes 7,754
Total 577,377 100 80 40 120
Registered voters/turnout 1,209,192 47.75
Source: IEC Lesotho, Election Passport

By district

District DC ABC LCD BNP Others
Butha-Buthe District 33.14 41.85 9.09 2.23 13.69
Leribe District 29.28 39.19 17.54 4.74 9.25
Berea District 28.47 50.10 9.15 5.25 7.03
Maseru District 35.01 49.72 4.75 4.55 6.97
Mafeteng District 41.44 30.80 14.78 3.50 9.48
Mohale's Hoek District 54.28 27.06 7.21 3.76 7.69
Quthing District 51.34 10.65 11.90 21.04 5.07
Qacha's Nek District 80.90 5.29 4.46 6.96 2.39
Thaba-Tseka District 44.09 22.38 9.32 6.37 18.01
Mokhotlong District 39.19 32.08 11.28 7.71 9.74

 

http://www.parliament.ls/assembly/

 

The Senate, Website

National Assembly of DRC, Website

The Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo consists of two chambers: The Senate (Upper Chamber), The National Assembly (Lower Chamber)

The Senate (Upper Chamber)

The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the transition period in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2003 - 2006), the Senate, aside from its Legislative role, also had the task of drafting the country's new constitution. This task came to fruition with the adoption of the draft in Parliament in May 2005, and its approval by the Congolese people, in a successful democratic referendum on 18 and 19 December 2005.

The current President of the Senate is Kengo Wa Dondo, elected in May 2007. The Secretary-General is David Byaza Sanda Lutala.

Election

Members of the Senate are indirectly elected based on proportional representation by the Provincial Assemblies. Each of the 25 provinces elects four senators, with the exception of the city-province of Kinshasa, which elects 8. Elected senators serve 5-year terms. Former presidents sit as senators for life by right.

Current Senate

Senators were elected under the new constitution on 19 January 2007 by the provincial parliaments of their respective provinces. The results of the latest election was:

Summary of the 19 January 2007 provisional Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo election results
Parties Alliances Leader Seats
People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (Parti du Peuple pour la Reconstruction et la Démocratie) AMP Joseph Kabila 22
Movement for the Liberation of the Congo (Mouvement pour la Liberation du Congo) UpN Jean-Pierre Bemba 14
Forces for Renewal (Forces du Renouveau) AMP Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi 7
Rally for Congolese Democracy (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie)     7
Christian Democrat Party (Parti Démocrate Chrétien) AMP José Endundo Bononge 6
Convention of Christian Democrats (Convention des Démocrates Chrétiens)     3
Social Movement for Renewal (Mouvement Social pour le Renouveau) AMP   3
Unified Lumumbist Party (Parti Lumumbiste Unifié) AMP Antoine Gizenga 2
Alliance of Congolese Democrats (Alliance des Démocrates Congolais)     1
United Congolese Convention (Convention des Congolais Unis) AMP   1
Democratic Convention for Development (Convention Démocrate pour le Développement)     1
Coalition of Congolese Democrats (Coalition des Démocrates Congolais)   Jean-Claude Muyambo 1
Convention for the Republic and Democracy (Convention pour la République et la Démocratie) UpN   1
Federalist Christian Democracy (Démocratie Chrétienne Fédéraliste–Convention des Fédéralistes pour la Démocratie Chrétiene) AMP Venant Tshipasa 1
Social Front of Independent Republicans (Front Social des Indépendants Républicains)     1
Liberal Christian Democrats Union (Union des Libéraux Démocrates Chrétiens)   Raymond Tshibanda 1
National Alliance Party for Unity (Parti de l’Alliance Nationale pour l’Unité) AMP André-Philippe Futa 1
Democratic Socialist Party (Parti Démocratique Socialiste)     1
Democratic Social Christian Party (Parti Democrate Social Chretien)   André Bo-Boliko Lokonga 1
Rally for Economic and Social Development (Rassemblement pour le Développement Économique et Social)     1
Rally of Congolese Democrats and Nationalists (Rassemblement des Congolais Démocrates et Nationalistes) UpN   1
Rally of Social and Federalist Forces (Rassemblement des Forces Sociales et Fédéralistes)     1
Congolese Union for Liberty (Union Congolaise pour la Liberté)     1
Union of Mobutuist Democrats (Union des Démocrates Mobutistes) AMP Nzanga Mobutu 1
National Union of Christian Democrats (Union Nationale des Démocrates Chrétiens)     1
National Union of Federalist Democrats (Union Nationale des Démocrates Fédéralistes)   Mwando Nsimba 1
Independent N/A N/A 26
Total     108
Source: http://www.cei-rdc.cd/IMG/pdf/senateur_200107-6.pdf "Portant Annonce des Resultats Provisoires de l'Election des Senateurs du 19 Janvier 2007 en Republique Democratique du Congo"], Commission Electorale Independante, 20 January 2007.

 

Transitional Senate

Composition of the Transitional Senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  Seats
Movement for the Liberation of Congo (Mouvement pour la Liberation du Congo) 22
Government 22
Political opposition 22
Congolese Rally for Democracy (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Democratie) 21
Civil Society 21
Maï-Maï 4
Congolese Rally for Democracy/Kisangani Liberation Movement (Rassemblement des Congolais pour la Démocratie/ Kisangani Mouvement de Libération) 3
Rally of Congolese for Democracy-National (Rassemblement des Congolais pour la Démocratie – National) 1
Total 120

 

The National Assembly (Lower Chamber)

The National Assembly is the lower house and main legislative political body of the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was established by the 2006 constitution.

Electoral system

The National Assembly is elected every 5 years by universal suffrage. There are 500 seats, 61 members are elected in single member constituencies while the remaining 439 members are elected in multi member constituencies by open list.

Numbers of deputies for each ville, commune (Kinshasa) and territory

Parentheses contain the number of deputies elected from each subdivision

Bandundu

Bas-Congo

Équateur

Kasaï-Occidental

Kasaï-Oriental

Katanga

Kinshasa

Maniema

Nord-Kivu

Orientale

Sud-Kivu

Transitional Assembly

Prior to the 2006 election, the National Assembly was an appointed body consisting of representatives of the difference parties to the peace agreement that ended the Second Congo War.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_the_Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo

http://www.assemblee-nationale.cd

http://www.senat.cd

BLURB: As demands for land become more strident across SADC, the region's MPs say it is time to wake up, smell the coffee and ensure access to this inelastic resource for all citizens especially women, the majority of whom work it but do not own it.

Luanda, Angola - A veteran South African lawmaker has challenged SADC Member Parliament to support legislative frameworks that promote women's access to and ownership of land.

Morotua-	 Veteran South African Lawmaker Rosalia MorotuaMorotua- Veteran South African Lawmaker Rosalia MorotuaLawmaker Rosalia Morotua made the call through a motion moved during the 43 rd Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum which took place here last week.

In the motion, moved on her behalf by fellow South African Member of Parliament (MP), Siphosezwe Masango, Morotua enjoined SADC Member Parliaments to debate the gendered dimension of land ownership and agricultural industrialization in their respective countries.

Additionally, she encouraged the SADC PF to engage the SADC Secretariat to determine progress toward advancing women's access to land in the agricultural sector in keeping with the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

"The limited sex-disaggregated data for land ownership in the SADC Region shows that men own most of the region's land," she said.

Tanzanian MP Esther Masi seconded Morotua's motion.

"Women in most of the SADC Member States simply do not own land resources, yet are the ones that produce food and feed our nations," Masi said and added that in Tanzania, it was estimated that women produced about 80% of the food.

Malawi MP Patricia Kainga said the SADC Gender Protocol barometer of 2017 attributes the poor access to land by women to stringent trade facilities that most women are unable to qualify for and customary practices that prevent women from inheriting the land.

"This region has a task to protect our women in land ownership and credit facilities," she said.

Zambian lawmaker Professor Kandu Luo said many rural women were suffering due to lack of access to land. She called for mechanization of agriculture to ease the burden on women who work on the land.

"The whole issue of tilling the land with hoes is really something that we should be looking at and mechanization of agriculture activities is extremely important," Luo said.

An MP from Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, said SADC Member States could learn something from his country about the land issue.

"As a Parliament and as a people, we have identified this issue and we have passed the necessary laws to do away with discrimination. Today, women and men in the Seychelles have equal access to land. Women can inherit land and there are no issues," he said.

He encouraged national parliaments to resolve the land question at national level.

"Bring those motions on; fight those injustices and through that, women will get their proper place in society," Ramkalawan said.

Zambian MP Elizabeth Phiri urged SADC Member States to protect the rights of mainly disadvantaged women and girls. She said many widows were getting a raw deal.

"When a man dies, relatives of this man come and get everything from the woman. Other tribes think giving birth to a girl-child is a curse; they would rather have boys through out," Phiri said.

She urged MPs to hold their governments accountable with respect to the domestication and implementation of relevant protocols such as the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

Botswana MP Duma Boko suggested that MPs use legislation to promote equitable access to land.

"Land is an inelastic resource. If someone holds tracts and tracts of land, rendering such land available only to himself and his family, is there a way we can free up some of that land?"

He warned that the writing was on the wall and enjoined his fellow lawmakers to wake up and smell the coffee.

"This is the question that bedevils South Africa, it bedeviled Zimbabwe with all the difficulty that it brought, and it now seems to bedevil the womenfolk," Boko said.

He cautioned against assuming that men were the only ones denying women access to land and called for a hard look at customary law and other factors.

"Under customary law, what are the rules that apply for the devolution and succession of land? In a lot of instances when you say the relatives of the man come and take the land, you may actually be talking about the mother of the man who has died. So, it is another woman grabbing land from a daughter-in-law. It must not appear as if all the time it is the men."

South African MP Shaik Emmam argued that land ownership bestows dignity on people and urged governments to help citizens acquire it.

"I want to encourage all SADC Member States to at least provide serviced land to every family, particularly women," he said.

Lesotho MP Tsepang Mosena said land was key in the quest for self-determination by nations and socio economic development of all people. She recalled land was at the top of the list of grievances when many SADC Member States waged liberation struggles.

"The guns have since fallen silent in many parts of Africa. However, demands for equitable access to land are growing more and more strident. Indeed, in many of our Member States, equitable land distribution remains an unfinished, emotive business," she said.

Mosena said she was aware that some SADC Member States had begun taking steps to "right this historical injustice" but challenged them to be more transparent about it.

"While I congratulate them, I would like to seize the opportunity to challenge (them) to generate and openly distribute disaggregated data showing how all citizens - regardless of gender or sex - are benefiting from land redistribution because I am fully persuaded that in many of our Member States, land ownership patterns remain skewed in favour of the male gender."

She said very little land was in the hands of women and girls "yet they make the majority in many our Member States and bear a disproportionate burden of providing care to the sick, broke and busted".

She attributed women's low access to land to their lower income earning capabilities due to a plethora of that include lower educational access and attainment, patriarchy and patriarchal lineage propped up by deeply entrenched beliefs about inheritance and succession.

"Strange as it might sound in the 21st century, we still have Member States in which the girl child cannot inherit her father's land ahead of or alongside her male siblings."

Mosena argued that lack of access to land results in exclusion from life-changing opportunities and increases women and girls' vulnerability to exploitation, poverty, HIV infection and unmet sexual and reproductive sexual rights.

"A woman who cannot access land may be forced to become a subordinate appendage of the man who owns and controls land as well as what it produces. In such a relationship, this woman has little or no say in many issues including her own reproductive rights. As representatives of the people, we can surely change this situation," she said.

She said there was justification for legislative intervention to level up land redistribution in many SADC Member States.

"I support legislated affirmative action to address gender disparities in land ownership. Ideally, our local and traditional authorities should be required to allocate or reserve a certain minimum quota of land for our female citizens to change the prevailing embarrassing situation," she said.

Staff Writer

The 43rd Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum has unanimously adopted a motion to amend the SADC Parliamentary Forum Constitution and the SADC Parliamentary Forum Rules of Procedure.

Botswana MP Honourable Duma Boko moved the motion calling for the amendments.

He explained the amendment sought to enable a much smoother operation of the SADC PF by en­suring that where certain Members are for some reason unable to attend, or they cease to be Mem­bers of their respective Parliaments, they can be replaced almost immediately, to enable the term of the affected Parliament to continue to its end.

Additionally, the motion sought to enable a situa­tion in which those who are unable to attend Ple­nary business would be able to appoint proxies so that the business of SADC PF is not disrupted by the non attendance resulting in Standing Commit­tees not having a quorum.

The second part of the motion was to put in place a monitoring and evaluation mechanism at regional level for the adoption, adaption and implemen­tation of Model Laws to ensure that when such Model Laws are passed, there can be some track­ing with respect to how far respective parliaments are in incorporating them in their domestic legisla­tive frameworks.

This is important, also, to enable tracking of the outcomes of the Model Laws so that when chal­lenges are detected, appropriate support is rendered.

Zambian Member of Parliament, Hon. Dr. S. Musokotwane seconded the motion. He said the amendments would make it easier for the Forum to replace its President, Vice-President or Trea­surer.

"Basically what it says is that since we follow principles of rotation, if for one reason or another, an MP who is sitting in office as President, Vice-President or Treasurer leaves the Forum, maybe because there was an election or they resigned, we do not need to go for another election. The country whose member was already performing those du­ties can be asked to submit a replacement to take over from there. This is what it does under Article 11(4) and Rule of Procedure number 10."

Hon. Musokotwane explained that the second amendment was related to a procedure to address a lacuna on the establishment and meeting of SADC PF Executive Sub-Committees.

"This amendment that we are talking about now, Rule procedure No. 13… is going to combine of­fices of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, together with the Sub-Committee so that the whole team can be up and running immediately."

Hon. Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo from Mozambique also supported the motion and said the amendments would smoothen the operations of the SADC PF.

Hon. Edgbert Aglae of Seychelles also welcomed the amendments and expressed optimism that they would further democratize the SADC PF.

"It is important that we adopt new ways of think­ing, and new resolutions. I think it is important that we obtain a copy of the SADC Constitution and procedures so that we can prepare ourselves better when we have future amendments coming before the House," he said.

Hon. Professor Nk'andu Luo from Zambia wel­comed the amendment that would set up a moni­toring mechanism over Model Laws developed by the SADC PF.

"This is because we develop Model Laws at great costs. I was part of the Committee that developed the Model Law on Child Marriage and it was at a great cost. Up to date, there has been no movement on that Model Law in Zambia We are dealing with a very serious problem on the African Continent where our children are being married off at a very tender age. They could have become Parliamen­tarians, Presidents, Doctors or Professors of this continent but because they would have been mar­ried off at a tender age, they had no opportunity to explore their potential," she said.

Malawi's Hon. Joseph Njobvuyalema welcomed the amendments saying they were overdue.

"We should have done this a long time ago. Where somebody is not available there is need for a proxy in deed… the amendments are quite in order."

Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe Advocate Jacob Francis Mudenda concurred.

"It is not at variance, therefore, to come up with this amendment, more so as we are anxiously looking at the transformation of the SADC PF into a SADC Regional Parliament."

The Acting Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum Ms. Boemo Sekgoma says the SADC PF has evolved to tackle issues of major concern to the SADC Region such as good governance, trade, issues of women empowerment, gender equality and HIV and AIDS among others.

Ms. Sekgoma said this when she introduced delegates to the 43rd Plenary Assembly Session of SADC, which met in the Angolan capital of Luanda in June 2018.

Speaking directly to the President of Angola, His Excellency Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, Ms. Sekgoma said the SADC PF was deeply indebted to Angola, which was hosting the Plenary Assembly Session for the third time.

"This is the third time that the National Assembly of Angola is hosting the SADC Parliamentary Forum Plenary Assembly Session. The first time was right here in Luanda in April of 2002 and the second was in Lubango in June 2011. Throughout the life of the forum, the National Assembly of Angola has demonstrated its unwavering commitment," Ms. Sekgoma said.

She said the Forum was the voice of Parliamentarians of the SADC Region, which draws its membership from 14 national parliaments.

"It provides a platform for Members of Parliament as the representatives of the people, to consult, consider and dialogue on matters of national and regional concern. Through this broad representation of Members of Parliament, the forum is an epitome of participatory democracy," she said.

Ms. Sekgoma explained that the Plenary Assembly is the highest policy making organ and deliberative organ of the SADC PF that meets twice a year to deliberate on matters of policy and make decisions on matters of interest to the SADC PF in particular and to the SADC Region in general. The 43rd SADC Plenary Assembly Session was its first meeting in 2018.

"As the main policy making body of the Forum, the Plenary Assembly has been consistent in providing a platform which has helped to shape policy and parliamentary processes in all the SADC member states. The 43rd Plenary Assembly Session is one such platform that contains that consistence," she said.

The 43rd Plenary Assembly Session was held under the theme: Deepening SADC Economic Integration through Industrialisation - The Role of Parliaments

Ms. Sekgoma said the theme had been carefully selected in order to advance the regional integration agenda of SADC.

"This Plenary Assembly will therefore, critically examine the role of Parliamentarians in deepening SADC's economic integration through industrialization," she said.

She then introduced delegates to the 43rd Plenary Assembly Session to the Angolan Head of State. These were: National Assembly of Angola which had a delegation of 13 members led by Hon. Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, Member of Parliament and Speaker of the National Assembly of Angola and President of the SADC PF and also host of the 43rd Plenary Assembly Session; the Parliament of Botswana, a delegation of 7 members led by Hon. Botlogile M. Tshireletso, Member of Parliament, Assistant Minister of Local Government; the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a delegation of 5 members led by Hon. Bonface Mukono Balamage, Member of Parliament; the Parliament of the Kingdom of Lesotho, a delegation of 8 members led by the right Hon. Sephiri Motanyane, Speaker of the National Assembly of Lesotho; the National Assembly of Malawi, a delegation of 7 members led by Hon. Patricia Kainga, Member of Parliament; the National Assembly of Mozambique, a delegation of 15 members led by Hon. Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo, Speaker of the National Assembly; the National Assembly of Namibia, a delegation of 11 members led by the Hon. Prof. Peter Katjavivi, Speaker of the National Assembly; the National Assembly of Seychelles, a delegation of 7 members led by Hon. Nicholas Prea, Speaker of the National Assembly; the Parliament of South Africa, a delegation of 13 members led by Hon. Baleka Mbete, Speaker of the Parliament of South Africa; the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania, a delegation of 7 members led by Hon. Selemani Zedi, Member of Parliament; the National Assembly of Zambia, a delegation of 6 members led by Hon. Prof. Nk'andu Luo, Member of Parliament and Minister of Higher Education; and the Parliament of the Republic of Zimbabwe, a delegation of 15 members led by Hon. Adv. Jacob Francis Mudenda, Speaker of the National Assembly.

She explained that apologies had been received from the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Eswatini and the National Assembly of Mauritius.

"In total, we have 12 Parliaments attending this Plenary Assembly Session, of which 7 delegations are led by Speakers and 5 delegations by Members of Parliament, 5 of the 12 delegations are led by women representing 42 per cent," she said to applause.

Ms. Sekgoma then introduced observers that had been invited to the Plenary. These were: The East Africa Legislative Assembly, a delegation of four members led by Hon. Fatuma Ibrahim Ali, Member of EALA, representing the Speaker; the Pan African Parliament represented by Hon. Helio De Jesus Bina Sanchez, Member of the Pan African Parliament and Chairperson of the PAP West African Caucus, Member of Parliament from Cape Verde; Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Executive Secretary of SADC, represented by Dr Johansein Rutaihwa; and Dr. Elias Isaac Director of the Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa, Angola Office.

Ms. Sekgoma expressed gratitude to the Government of the National Assembly of Angola and the people of the Republic of Angola through the Hon. Speaker, Hon. Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, Speaker of the National Assembly of Angola and President of the SADC Parliamentary SADC Forum, "for graciously hosting the 43rd SADC Plenary Assembly Session at this beautiful Palace of the Parliament in this beautiful city of Luanda."

Delivered By

Mr Justice Dr Patrick Matibini, Sc., Fciarb, Mp

Head Of Mission And Speaker Of The National Assembly Of The Republic Of Zambia As Well As A Member Of The Sadc Pf Executive Committee

On 1 August 2018

At Harare International Conference Centre In Harare, Zimbabwe

 

 SALUTATIONS

  • Honourable Manuel Domingos Augusto, Head of SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) and Minister of International Relations for the Republic of Angola;
  • Your Excellency Hailemariam Desalegn, Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission and Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Ethiopia;
  • Esteemed Heads and Members of International Election Observation Missions;
  • Justice Priscila Makanyara Chigumba, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and ZEC Commissioners here present;
  • Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
  • Esteemed Leaders of Political Parties;
  • Members of Civil Society Organisations;
  • Media Representatives;
  • Distinguished Guests;
  • Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my singular honour and privilege to present the SADC Parliamentary Forum Election Observation Mission's Preliminary Statement on the 2018 Zimbabwe Harmonised Elections.

1. INTRODUCTION

In line with its goals of protecting electoral integrity within the SADC Region, the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), [1] constituted a 22-Member Election Observation Mission to the 2018 Zimbabwe Harmonised Elections following an invitation by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The Mission comprised a Pre-Election Technical Assessment Mission which was in the country from 14 to 26 July and the main Short Term Observation Mission which arrived in Zimbabwe on 26 July to 02 August 2018.

The Mission comprises Members of Parliament drawn from five National Parliaments of SADC countries, namely Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia and is supported by officials from the SADC PF Secretariat and National Parliaments.

I was honoured to be the Head of the Mission while Hon. Agnes Limbo from the National Assembly of the Republic of Namibia is the Deputy Head of Mission.

This Mission is the fifth SADC PF Election Observation Mission to be deployed in Zimbabwe, with similar Missions having been deployed during the 2000, 2002, and 2013 general elections as well as the 2013 constitutional referendum. The SADC PF Election Observation Mission to the 2018 Harmonised Elections is also the 42nd Election Observation Mission to be deployed to a Member State since 1999 when SADC PF started observing elections in the SADC Region.

The purpose of this Preliminary Statement is to share with ZEC and other stakeholders the Mission's findings and recommendations, which are aimed at strengthening electoral institutions and promoting the integrity and efficacy of elections freeness, fairness as well as the overall credibility and integrity of elections in Zimbabwe and the entire SADC Region.

This Preliminary Statement details the Mission's findings, overall assessment and recommendations to date. The Mission is well aware that this Preliminary Statement is being issued when the tabulation, verification and declaration of results is still ongoing. SADC PF will continue to observe the post-election developments and will capture these in a more detailed Final Report that will be compiled and published within 60 days from the date of this Preliminary Statement. SADC PF will, in line with established practice, formally present the Mission's Final Report to ZEC and share experiences for electoral reforms in line with the SADC Model Law on Elections which SADC PF is currently finalising.

2. TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Mission's Terms of Reference were based on the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2015) and the African Charter for Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007), among other international election instruments. More specifically, the Mission's observation work was guided by the following points of inquiry that are contained in the SADC PF's Benchmarks for Assessing Democratic Elections in Southern Africa (2013) :

i) Political Context and the Campaign Environment;

ii) Constitutional and Legal Framework;

iii) Electoral System and Boundary Delimitation;

iv) Electoral Management;

v) Media Coverage;

vi) Role of Security Forces;

vii) Role of Traditional Leaders;

viii)Gender Mainstreaming;

ix) Participation of Youths;

x) Electoral Dispute Resolution;

xi) Voter Education;

xii) Registration of Parties and Nominations;

xiii) Political Party Funding and Campaign Funding;

xiv) Voter Registration and the State of the Voters Roll;

xv) Voting Operations and Polling Arrangements;

xvi) Vote Counting;

xvii) Declaration of Results;

xviii) Complaints and Appeals Procedures;

xix)Good Practices;

xx) Areas of Improvement; and

xxi)Overall Assessment of the entire Electoral Processes.

3. DEPLOYMENT PLAN

The Mission deployed its Teams in five of Zimbabwe's 10 provinces, namely; Harare Metropolitan, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Manicaland and Midlands. The teams were deployed as follows:

PROVINCE

TEAM MEMBERS

M/F

COUNTRY

Harare

Team 1

Mr Justice Dr Patrick Matibini, SC., FCIArb, MP, Head of Mission

Hon. Agnes Limbo (Deputy Head of Mission)

Chongo MUSONDA - Staff

John CHELU - Staff

Cleophas Gwakwara- Staff

M

F

M

M

M

Zambia

Namibia

Zambia

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Mashonaland West

Team 2

Hon. Botlogile Tshireletso- (Team Leader)

Hon. Jorge Augusto

Geoffrey Zulu-Staff

F

M

M

Botswana

Angola

Zambia

Mashonaland East

Team 3

Hon. Chunga Ponde Mecha- (Team Leader)

Hon. Sedirwa Kgoroba

Victor Fernandes-Staff

M

M

M

Zambia

Botswana

Angola

Manicaland

Team 4

Hon. Stevens Mokgalapa- (Team Leader)

Hon. Elizabeth Phiri

Rumbidzai Chisango-Staff

M

F

F

South Africa

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Midlands

Team 5

Hon. Ruth Andriano Mendes - (Team Leader)

Hon. Hlomane Patrick Chauke

Bonnet Moeng-Staff

F

M

M

Angola

South Africa

Botswana

Secretariat

Sheuneni Kurasha - Mission Coordinator

Unaro Mungendje - Finance and Logistics

Mr Tawanda Mubvuma - Rapporteur

Ms Cecilia Njovana - Mission Secretary

SADC PF Secretariat

SADC PF Secretariat

Resource Person

Parliament of Zimbabwe

 

4. OBSERVATION METHODOLOGY

The Mission held consultations with stakeholders including ZEC, political parties, civil society organisations (CSOs), media, security forces, academia and the general electorate. The Mission also observed political campaign rallies, witnessed door-to-door campaigns by political parties and candidates and monitored the mass media. Consultations were held with other Election Observation Missions including SADC, African Union, Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC (ECF - SADC), Commonwealth, European Union, Carter Center, National Democratic Institute (NDI)/International Republican Institute (IRI) and local observers. The Mission also reviewed the constitutional and legal framework governing Elections in Zimbabwe as part of its methodology.

5. GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE SADC PF MISSION

In carrying out its observation work, the Mission was guided by the key observation principles of impartiality, neutrality, comprehensiveness, transparency, inclusiveness and objectivity.

6. MISSION FINDINGS

6.1 Political Context and the Campaign Environment

The Mission noted that the 2018 Zimbabwe Harmonised Elections are the second elections to be held under the new Zimbabwe Constitution adopted in 2013 and the first elections following the political transition which saw the former President Robert Mugabe resigning on 21 November 2017 and being succeeded by former Vice-President, Emmerson Mnangagwa on 24 November 2017. In addition, the Mission noted that the elections were duly proclaimed through Statutory Instrument 83 of 2018 issued in terms section 158 of the Zimbabwean Constitution, declaring 30 July as the Election Day and 8 September as the day for presidential election runoff, if need be.

Stakeholders, including political parties, candidates and the electorate indicated that more democratic space had opened-up in the build-up to the 2018 elections. The environment allowed political parties to campaign unimpeded throughout the country and citizens to enjoy the rights enshrined in the Constitution. It was also indicated that although the Public Order and Security Act had not been aligned to the new Constitution, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) granted authority to all political parties to hold public assemblies including rallies and demonstrations in a professional and timely manner.

Against years of international isolation, the 2018 elections are viewed by a broad range of stakeholders within and outside Zimbabwe as crucial in restoring the legitimacy of the State and the country's re-engagement with the international community.

Overall, the Mission observed that in spite of the 2018 elections having been a very tight contest, Zimbabweans are commended for exercising political tolerance and maturity which contributed to the peaceful environment during the campaign period and on Election Day. However, the Mission took note of isolated cases of election-related offences in the pre-election period such as inter-party and intra-party violence, intimidation and defacing of campaign posters.

The Mission urges Zimbabweans to continue in the spirit of tolerance and harmony in the post-election period.

6.2 The Constitutional and Legal Framework

The Mission observed that Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] and the regulations issued in terms of the Act, comprehensively provide for all aspects of organising and conducting elections in Zimbabwe.

The Constitution provides for the protection of citizens' fundamental rights and liberties which include freedoms of expression, assembly and association, movement, freedom of conscience and religious belief, as well as participation in elections. Section 58 of the Zimbabwean Constitution in particular, provides for the freedom of assembly and association and Section 61 provides for freedom of expression and freedom of the media. Section 66, subsection 2 (a) of the Constitution safeguards the citizens' right to move freely within Zimbabwe while Section 67 provides for the political rights.

The Mission is generally satisfied that the afore-stated rights and freedoms were respected and exercised without undue hindrance during the campaign period and on Election Day.

The Mission welcomes the various electoral reforms introduced through the Electoral Amendment Act of 25 May 2018, which include statutory limits on the amount of contingent ballot papers to be printed in an election and the setting of timelines for determination of election results petitions. The reforms responded to some of the recommendations made by observers during the 2013 elections. The reforms also contributed towards improving the legal framework governing elections in Zimbabwe.

The Mission noted the significant progress that Zimbabwe has made in improving the constitutional and legislative framework governing elections in the country in line with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

6.3 ZEC and Election Administration

ZEC is established by the Constitution as the body responsible for the preparation, conduct and supervision of Elections and Referenda in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, the Constitution expressly mandates ZEC to ensure that elections and referenda in Zimbabwe are conducted efficiently, freely, fairly and transparently.

The Mission notes the low levels of confidence expressed by some political parties in ZEC, in particular, with regards to the design, printing, storage and transportation of ballot papers. Cognisant of progress made in addressing these matters in other SADC countries, the Mission urges ZEC to engage stakeholders with a view to drawing lessons from these countries in the post-election period.

The Mission notes that ZEC has adequately prepared and managed all aspects of the electoral process such as training and deployment of electoral officers, procurement of electoral materials, registration of voters, provision of voter education and other logistical arrangements timeously and in accordance with the electoral timetable.

The Mission took note of concerns regarding the inadequacies of ZEC's communication strategy which was perceived to be reactionary in some instances as opposed to being proactive.

 

6.4 The Role of Security Forces

The Mission observed that ZRP trained its officers in election instruments, human rights and police duties during elections. ZRP, also constantly liaised with ZEC and other stakeholders including the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and CSOs in providing security to the electoral process. Stakeholders also commended the professional manner in which ZRP had policed public assemblies during the campaign period. On voting day ZRP played an important role in guaranteeing public safety and providing security without interfering with the electoral processes across the country.

 

6.5 Voter Registration and the State of the Voters' Roll

The Mission notes that the 2018 Zimbabwe Harmonised elections were the first elections in which ZEC assumed full control for the compilation of a new voters roll. ZEC used biometric technology for the compilation of a new voters roll which ushered polling station based voting for the first time in Zimbabwe.

The SADC PF Mission learnt that ZEC undertook an extensive biometric voter registration exercise from 14 September 2017, culminating in a total of 5,695,706 voters, of which 3,073,190 were female while 2,622,516 were male, at the closure of the voters roll of the 2018 elections on 8 February 2018. The Mission took note that a local civil society organization, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), carried out an independent audit of the voters roll and concluded that the roll was a significant improvement over the 2013 Preliminary voters roll. In particular, the audit did not identify anomalies in the 2018 voters roll that affected a large percentage of registrants or that were concentrated amongst registrants, of a particular area, gender or age. Furthermore, the audit also revealed that the 2018 voters roll has a significant number of new registrants, as well as more urban and young registrants when compared to the one used during the 2013 elections.

6.6 Civic and Voter Education

The Mission commends ZEC for the collaborative approach to voter education which saw ZEC accrediting a record number of CSOs to undertake voter education. The voter education efforts benefited from the amendment to the Electoral Act to provide for the direct receipt of foreign donations to fund voter education activities by CSOs as opposed to via ZEC as was the case previously.

Voter education assumed a multi-pronged approach which included print and electronic media adverts, door to door campaigns, distribution of posters, pamphlets and leaflets, roadshows, use of billboards and operation of an electoral information dissemination call centre, including in local languages. In addition, the Mission observed that the contesting political parties also played a significant role in providing voter education to their members during the build-up towards the 2018 Zimbabwe Harmonised Elections.

6.7 Legislation Governing Regulation of Political Parties

The Mission observed that Zimbabwe has no law governing the establishment, registration and operation of political parties. Political parties only need to make announcements that they have been established. The absence of a law governing the registration and operation of political parties has led to the proliferation of political parties, thereby presenting administrative challenges for ZEC in determining the number of political parties when organising meetings and designing the ballot papers. Drawing from experiences elsewhere in the SADC region, there is a need to promulgate a law to govern the registration and operations of political parties.

6.8 Political Party Funding

The Mission noted that political party and campaign funding in Zimbabwe is regulated by the provisions of the Political Parties (finance) Act [Chapter 2:11]. According to the Act, political parties and candidates that would have garnered a minimum threshold of five percent of the votes cast during the most recent elections are entitled to a proportional allocation of state funding as determined by the government annually.

6.9 Media Coverage of the Elections

The SADC PF Mission noted the critical role played by the media in enhancing awareness on the election process including voter registration, voter education and candidate nominations and communicating the political choices available for the voters. This went a long way in promoting public interest and encouraging public participation in the Elections.

The Mission took note of the trend of acute polarisation that generally characterised the coverage by mainstream media, both private and public print and electronic media prior, during and post the 2018 Zimbabwe Harmonised Elections. Further, the Mission expresses its concern regarding the continued trend of bias by the public media towards the ruling party in its coverage of elections as was observed during the 2013 elections. The SADC PF Mission, therefore, urges for ethical and balanced reporting during elections.

The Mission also noted the robust use of social media especially in urban areas, by various political parties, candidates and other stakeholders as a tool for communication. The Mission however, received concerns on the abuse of social media and the negative impact it has on political participation of women.

6.10 Gender Mainstreaming and Participation of Women

The Mission notes that out of the 23 Presidential candidates, only 4 candidates were women, while out of the 1631 direct election National Assembly candidates, only 240 (14.7%) were women. The same pattern replicated itself in the local authority elections where out of 6576 candidates, 1132 (17.21%) were women. The SADC PF Mission noted that most of the political parties did not have deliberate policies to promote the inclusion of women as candidates in accordance with the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

The Mission commends the provision in the law for 60 quota seats for women in the National Assembly and the 'zebra system' for Senatorial seats where the law requires that the first candidate on the list should be a woman.

6.11 Electoral Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

The Mission commends the amendment to the Electoral Act to provide for the setting up of Multi-Party Liaison Committee's (MPLCs) at least 12 months prior to the date of election as opposed to soon after the sitting of Nomination Courts as was the case before. The MPLCs are a strategic platform for alternative dispute resolution and consensus building between political parties and ZEC. The Mission witnessed the MPLCs in operation at national and provincial levels.

6.12 Voting, Counting and Declaration of Results

ZEC deployed sufficient numbers of staff to manage polling stations and the officers were evidently trained and they managed the process professionally. Voting proceeded smoothly in most polling stations observed by the Mission teams. The Mission also commends the polite and helpful way Electoral Officials liaised with political party agents in resolving issues during the voting, verification and counting process.

There were adequate polling stations with clear signage in most cases. Most polling stations visited by the Mission's teams on Election Day opened at 0700 hours and closed at 1900 hours in line with the law.

Voting materials were available in adequate quantities and voting proceeded smoothly in a peaceful environment. The polling station design guaranteed the secrecy of the vote. Voters who were already queued up by 1900 hours were allowed to vote in line with the law.

The counting process was done in a stringent and orderly manner following procedures. All reconciliations were done in consultation with and to the satisfaction of party agents. However, some polling stations particularly temporary structures, did not have adequate lighting and this slowed the counting process.

The Mission commends the posting of results for each polling station outside the respective polling station.

7. GOOD FEATURES AND PRACTICES FROM THE 2018 ZIMBABWE HARMONISED ELECTIONS

The Mission observed the following features and good practices from the 2018 Zimbabwe Harmonised Elections:

i) The mature and tolerant manner in which Zimbabweans conducted themselves prior to the elections, on Election Day and in the immediate post-election period.

ii) Higher voter turnout at most polling stations.

iii) The peaceful and conducive environment in which the 2018 elections were held.

iv) Timely distribution of election materials and deployment of trained polling officers as well as security personnel.

v) The stringent and orderly manner in which ZEC managed the voting and counting process on Election Day.

vi) Use of technology by ZEC during the voter registration and verification exercise.

vii) The provision in the law for the setting up of Multi-Party Liaison Committee's (MPLCs) at least 12 months prior to the date of election as opposed to soon after the sitting of Nomination Courts as was the case in the past.

viii) ZEC's preparation of a comprehensive and credible voters' roll during their first attempt at applying biometric technology.

ix) The introduction of polling station-based voters roll and polling station specific voting.

x) Introduction of legal provisions to ensure the mainstreaming of gender in the entire electoral process.

xi) Opening-up of funding regulations to enable CSOs to receive external funding directly as opposed to via ZEC for purposes of conducting voter education.

xii) Provisions in the law which limits the maximum number of ballot papers that can be printed for any election to not more than 10% of the number of registered voters eligible to vote in the election.

xiii) Decentralised structure of the ZEC which allowed the ZEC to effectively discharge its mandate working hand in hand with stakeholders at Constituency, District, Provincial and National levels.

xiv) Prioritisation of special groups such as those with disabilities, the elderly and pregnant mothers during voting in order to ensure they exercise their right to vote.

xv) The high number of polling stations to ensure that all voters have easy access to the polling stations.

xvi) Nationwide civic and voter education by ZEC assisted by CSOs and political parties to generate interest in and knowledge of the voting process.

xvii) The provision within electoral legislation for the establishment of an Electoral Court which is required to resolve post-electoral disputes within 3 months of being lodged with it and the resolution of possible appeals to the Supreme Court and which appeals are required to be determined within 6 months.

xviii) Counting and declaration of ballots at polling stations and the posting results outside the polling station.

xix) The legal requirement for announcing the election outcome within five days.

xx) The Gazetting of the polling day, (30th July 2018) as a public holiday to enable as many Zimbabweans as possible to exercise their democratic right to vote.

xxi) Number of women in ZEC including the Commissioners and electoral officials.

xxii)Public denouncing of political violence by the leadership of the main political parties as well as other stakeholders such as religious groups and civil society.

xxiii) The use of national IDs as proof of identification during voting instead of having separate voting cards and readily accessibility of national IDs for those who would have lost them during the election period.

8. AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

The Mission observes the following as areas requiring improvement to further enhance the credibility and integrity of elections in Zimbabwe:

i) The need to promulgate the law to govern the regulation of political parties in Zimbabwe.

ii) The need for ZEC to improve on its communication strategy for purposes of confidence building with stakeholders.

iii) The need for ZEC to engage political parties and stakeholders to establish consensus on measures to enhance transparency in the management of elections, in particular, the printing, storage and transportation of ballot papers.

iv) The need to strengthen the legal framework governing media coverage of elections in order to enhance fair, balanced and responsible reporting by the media especially the public media.

v) The need to develop strong legal and administrative mechanisms to encourage and support the adoption of women as candidates so as to ensure gender parity in political and decision-making positions in line with the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

vi) Need to improve lighting in polling stations especially in temporary structures.

vii) The need to streamline the counting process to make it less tedious.

viii)The need to standardise timelines for the verification of ballot papers.

9. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE 2018 ZIMBABWE HARMONISED ELECTIONS

Based on its overall findings of the electoral processes to date, the Mission is satisfied that there existed a conducive and peaceful environment in which the Elections were conducted. This accorded Zimbabweans the opportunity to freely express their will in voting for the candidates of their choice.

The observed pre-election period from 14 July, the Election Day and immediate post-election period as at 31 July 2018, was observed to be peaceful, free and transparent.

SADC PF will continue to observe the post-election process, including the final declaration of results and post-election developments, and will pronounce itself ultimately in its Final Report.

I thank you



[1] The SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) is a Regional inter-parliamentary forum for national Parliaments of SADC Member States established in 1996 and was approved by the SADC Summit in 1997 as a consultative and deliberative body in accordance with Article 9 (2) of the SADC Treaty. It is currently composed of 14 National Parliaments, namely Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Staff Writer

The SADC Parliamentary Forum has joined the Government, people of Namibia and the international community in expressing deepest condolences following the passing on of Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, the former Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia and also former President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

In a statement, the President of SADC PF, Fernando da Piedade Dais dos Santos, who is also Speaker of the National Assembly of Angola, said death had robbed the world of a “liberation hero, diplomat par excellence and an internationalist.”

Gurirab died on Saturday 14 July 2018. He served as Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia after the late Dr. Mose Tjitendero, the founding Speaker of the National Assembly of the Parliament of Namibia who was also the founding Chairperson of the SADC PF.

President of SADC PF, Fernando da Piedade Dais dos Santos, who is also Speaker of the National Assembly of AngolaPresident of SADC PF, Fernando da Piedade Dais dos Santos, who is also Speaker of the National Assembly of AngolaDos Santos said Namibia was not only instrumental in establishing the SADC PF, but continues to host the Forum’s Secretariat.

“As a result, the SADC PF has benefitted from the wise stewardship of three successive Speakers of the National Assembly. This bears testimony to Namibia’s commitment to the SADC Integration Agenda and to the Forum, which is the voice of SADC Parliamentarians,” he said.

Dos Santos recalled that in 2007, SADC Parliamentarians nominated Gurirab as their candidate for the coveted position of President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

“Subsequently the African continent unanimously endorsed his candidature. Hon. Dr. Gurirab was elected by more than 170 parliaments and served from 2008 to 2011,” he said.

He said Gurirab took Parliamentary diplomacy to new heights in that during his tenure, the IPU was granted observer status by the United Nations.

“By supporting the call for the transformation of the SADC PF into a SADC Regional Parliament, Hon. Dr. Gurirab advocated for the appreciation of Parliamentary diplomacy in the SADC Region.”

Dos Santos said the greatest honour that the SADC Region could bestow “on this gentle giant” is to heed the call for the establishment of a SADC Regional Parliament.

“The upcoming 38th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government which will be held on 17th – 18th August 2018 in Windhoek, presents a golden opportunity,” Dos Santos said.

He noted Gurirab’s commitment and role in shaping the international development agenda.

“The leadership he provided during his tenure as President of the United Nations General Assembly (1999-2000) led to the development of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs.) The MDGs laid the foundation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): the current international blueprint,” he said.

Quoting the vision statement of the 17 SDGs which run from 2015 to 2030, dos Santos said: “We can be the first generation to end extreme poverty, the most determined generation in history to end injustice and inequality, and the last generation to be threatened by climate change.”

He encouraged the world to recommit to serving humanity in honour of Gurirab.

… as SADC PF denounces attacks at rallies

Staff Writer in Luanda, Angola

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe, Adv. Jacob Mudenda has briefed the 43rd Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum on Zimbabwe's preparedness for harmonised elections scheduled for July 30 2018.

Mudenda spoke on Thursday immediately after the 14-member regional body issued a strongly-worded statement condemning a suspected grenade attack at a rally that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had addressed in Bulawayo on 23 June 2018. The statement, read out on behalf of the Forum by Mozambican Parliamentarian Jaine Bessa Augusto Neto, also condemned a grenade attack that appeared to have targeted Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Rt. Hon. Abiy Ahmed, on the same day.

"We strongly condemn these heinous and barbaric acts of terrorism which are an affront, to the peace and tranquillity prevailing both in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia and the African continent as a whole," the statement read.

The Plenary, which is the supreme decision-making of the SADC PF said the region's MPs could not remain silent while "criminals and violence perpetrators attempt to create instability, chaos and despondency in these two sovereign States, in the Region and in Africa in general, by subverting the will of the people to be governed democratically and peacefully".

The Plenary enjoined the people of Zimbabwe and Ethiopia to remain united in the face of "cowardly and desperate attacks" on their sovereignty and democracy.

Through the statement, the SADC Parliamentary Forum conveyed condolences to the families of people who died in the attacks and wished the many that were injured speedy recovery.

"The law must take its full course in pursuing and bringing to book the enemies of peace who committed these heinous acts of terrorism," the Plenary said.

The SADC PF statement followed a similar statement by the President of Angola Joao Lourencio.

Mudenda told the Plenary that Zimbabwe's election roadmap for the harmonised elections was formally set in motion by a Proclamation issued by President Mnangagwa, setting July 30 as the date for the Elections.

"Section 143 (1) of our Constitution clearly provides that the life of Parliament is five years beginning on the day the President-Elect was sworn in and that Parliament stands dissolved at midnight on the day before the first day of the elections which is 29 July 2018. Section 158 (1) of our Constitution states that a general election must be held not more than thirty days before the expiry of the five-year period specified in section 143 (3) of the national Constitution cited above. Accordingly, nomination courts sat on 14th June 2018," Mudenda explained.

He said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, is an independent Commission established in terms of section 238 of the Constitution to manage Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Authority elections, would prepare for, conduct and supervise elections "in such a manner that they are conducted efficiently, freely, fairly and transparently in accordance with the Electoral law as provided for in section 239(a) of our Constitution".

The Speaker said all election observers would be accredited by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in terms of section 239(i) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

He revealed that pre-election observation missions from the United States, European Union, the United Nations and the Commonwealth had already visited Zimbabwe while the Electoral Commission had assured Zimbabwe and the international community that the elections would be conducted democratically in a peaceful political environment.

Mudenda said the "mushrooming" of 128 political Parties and a record 23 Presidential candidates set to participate in the elections was proof of the transparent democratic space unprecedented since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980.

"In the same vein, media coverage for the electoral process has been pervasive and inclusive of all political Parties."

He said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had since produced copies of the updated voters' roll for inspection by the public and political parties.

"It should also be noted that the current elections will be conducted using a biometric voters' roll similar to the Namibian experience. As at 29 th May 2018, a total of 5 524 188 people had registered to vote. In terms of our law, the registration for voters stopped 12 days after the close of the Nomination Courts."

Noting that the Zimbabwean Head of State had categorically stated on numerous occasions that the country would conduct free, transparent, fair and credible elections, Mudenda said all political parties had been campaigning freely in the country.

"A number of countries and international organisations such as the Commonwealth, the African Union, the European Union, the Swedish government, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Republican International Institute have sent teams to pre-assess the prevailing electoral environment before rolling out their observation teams."

He said the teams had concluded that the electoral environment was conducive to holding free, fair, transparent and possibly credible elections.

"To bolster this scenario … all the 23 Presidential candidates signed a PEACE PLEDGE on 26th June 2018 to the effect that all these candidates must be advocates for peaceful elections before, during and after their conclusion."

Additionally, he said, electoral courts had been established in the country's ten provinces to deal with all electoral breaches expeditiously.

Meanwhile, the President of SADC PF will no longer have to hit the table with his or her clenched fist to call for order. This after Mozambique donated a hammer to the President on Thursday.

Sobre nós

O Fórum Parlamentar da Comunidade para o Desenvolvimento da África Austral (SADC PF) foi criado em 1997, em conformidade com o Artigo 9 (2) do Tratado da SADC como uma instituição autônoma da SADC. É um órgão interparlamentar regional composto por Treze (14) parlamentos representando mais de 3500 parlamentares na região da SADC. Consulte Mais informação

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