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What is PEPSA?. Pre-conditions for Elections Programme in Southern Africa Started in August 2004 Elections as a site of democratic consolidation Role of media – especially state media. Partners involved in starting PEPSA. MISA EISA OSISA NIZA HIVOS
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What is PEPSA? • Pre-conditions for Elections Programme in Southern Africa • Started in August 2004 • Elections as a site of democratic consolidation • Role of media – especially state media
Partners involved in starting PEPSA • MISA • EISA • OSISA • NIZA • HIVOS • Opportunity for others interested in electoral issues to join
Organisation of PEPSA • Steering Committee made up of the 5 organisations – rotating chairing - coordinating policy and implementation • Team of 3 exerts – Electoral processes and systems, Media and CSOs • Focus countries – 5 currently: Angola, DRC, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe (possibility of more countries) • Focus country expert consultants
PEPSA objectives • Support and enhance current initiatives and processes; no duplication of existing ones • Provide opportunities for learning and solidarity across the region • Support sharing of experiences, learning and analysis of electoral models and systems; how these enhance or hinder participation • Support other advocacy strategies that defend and enhance citizen participation and public engagement
Main Elements of PEPSA • Monitoring of electoral processes in SADC to see to what extend these meet commitments; especially SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections – August 2004 • Annual Observatory conference – Analysis tool • Annual Publication – Outside the Ballot Box • Realization of the shortcomings of SADC principles; need for campaign for accetance of other guidelines like SADC PF Norms and Standards (2001); Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation of Elections developed by EISA / ECF (2003)
PEPSA in 2005 • Publication – Outside the Ballot Box • Write up on countries that held elections in 2004: Malawi; South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique • And those serious challenges planning future elections: Zimbabwe, Angola and DRC • Observatory conference discuss analysis tool and its implementation • Discussion on issue of harmonisation of various regional principles and guidelines – SADC, SADC PF, EISA/ECF
Where is PEPSA now? • Focus country programmes • Involvement of in-country networks: - very active in Angola, DRC and Mozambique - less active in Swaziland and Zimbabwe • Fund raising for in-country programmes
Conclusion • Everyone and every organisation can be part of PEPSA • PEPSA is about governance • It is about democratic development and consolidation • It is about increasing political literacy of the citizenry • It is about making our votes count THANK YOU