Former Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete will lead a Commonwealth delegation to Zambia in August to observe the general elections. In picture is Kikwete in 2010. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
03 August 2021 – The Zambian general elections, scheduled to take place on 12 August 2021, is expected to be a close affair. A Commonwealth observer group to be headed by a former president of Tanzania, is on the way to Zambia to monitor the situation.
Former President of Tanzania, Dr Jakaya Kikwete, will lead a group of eminent persons from across the Commonwealth to observe Zambia’s general elections scheduled for 12 August 2021.
The 14-member team of observers was constituted by Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Zambia.
An advance group of observers was deployed to Zambia on 25 July 2021, while the rest of the team is expected to arrive in Lusaka from 2 August 2021.
“Conducting these electoral processes – despite the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic – in an inclusive, peaceful and credible manner would be a demonstration of Zambia’s enduring commitment as a Commonwealth member to our shared values of democracy, transparency, mutual respect and inclusiveness,” says Secretary-General Scotland.
“In solidarity with the people of Zambia, the Commonwealth will be present to observe these polls and will continue to work with relevant Zambian institutions towards further strengthening the country’s democracy.
“As I indicated in my keynote address during the launch of the Coalition for Peaceful Elections in Zambia on 1 July 2021, elections should be an opportunity to engage in political debate over issues and perspectives and not a platform for trading insults and blows. And for democracy to flourish, it is imperative that political parties and institutions embrace transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law,” says Scotland.
The Commonwealth Observer Group will consider the pre-election environment and election preparations. On election day, the team will observe the voting, vote-counting, and results processes with reference to national legislation and international democratic standards to which Zambia has committed itself.
As with all Commonwealth observer missions, the group will function impartially and independently and conduct itself according to the standards expressed in the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation.
Composition of the Observer Group
HE Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of Tanzania (Chairperson)
Mrs Alicia Peters
Former National Director MYCommonwealth
Canada
Hon Donald Malomba Esembe
Member of Parliament
Cameroon
Dr Samuel Kale Ewusi
Africa Regional Director, UPEACE
Cameroon
Ms Lomcebo Dlamini
Gender and Human Rights Specialist
Eswatini
Mr Kenneth Abotsi
Electoral Affairs and Conflict Resolution Expert
Ghana
Mr Douglas Gichuki
Advocate of the High Court
Kenya
Ms Renee Ngamau
Advocate
Kenya
Ms Idayat Hassan
Director, Centre for Democracy and Development
Nigeria
Mr Samson Itodo
Executive Director, Yiaga Africa
Nigeria
Hon Shandana Gulzar Khan
Chairperson, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians
Pakistan
Mrs Marcella Samba-Sesay
Chairperson, National Election Watch (NEW) and
Executive Director, Campaign for Good Governance
Sierra Leone
Professor Mandla Mchunu
Former Chief Electoral Officer
South Africa
Ms Crystal Orderson
Journalist
South Africa
The group is supported by a staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat headed by Prof Luis Franceschi, Senior Director of the Governance and Peace Directorate.
WhyAfrica provides you with business intelligence that matters. WhyAfrica specialises in African affairs and natural resources. Africa is our business, and we want it to be yours too. To subscribe to WhyAfrica’s free newsletter or digital magazine, and for more news on Africa, visit the website at www.whyafrica.co.za or send a direct message.