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| Former Mauritius President Cassam Uteem |
By Paul Shalala in Johannesburg, South Africa
Former Mauritius President Cassam Uteem is again leading a
team of election observers from the Electoral Institute for Sustainable
Democracy in Africa (EISA) to Zambia for next week's general elections and referendum.
Mr Uteem, who led the island nation of Mauritius from 1992 to 2002, also led the EISA election observers to Zambia's January 2015
elections which ushered into office President Edgar Lungu following the death
of his predecessor Michael Sata in October 2014.
In a statement, EISA Deputy Chief of Mission Denis Kadima says
the team is in Zambia to conduct an independent assessment of the electoral
process and contribute to its peaceful and transparent conduct through their
findings and recommendations.
“The Mission will base its assessment on the standards and
obligations stipulated in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and
Governance; the Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation;
and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, ” read part of the statement.
The 13 man team will be deployed in Lusaka, Ndola,
Livingstone and Mongu.
The team includes 10 short term observers from election
management bodies and civil society organisations from across the continent.
EISA is not new to Zambia.
It has monitored elections since 2000.
According to the statement, in 2000 EISA supported the Electoral
Commission of Zambia to establish its conflict management panels and develop
civic and voter education materials.
It also deployed observer missions to the 2006, 2008, 2011
and 2015 elections.
EISA joins other international organisations like the
African Union, SADC, the Commonwealth and the European Union who have already
deployed their observers on the ground.
On Thursday next week, Zambia goes to the polls to elect a
President, 156 Members of Parliament, Mayors, Council Chairmen and
Councillors.
Voters will also be voting in a referendum to either adopt or reject amendments to the Bill of
Rights.
According to the revised voters register, Zambia has six
million voters.
Nine Presidential candidates are in the race including the
incumbent Edgar Lungu.
