African election management bodies have proposed creating a continental forum to represent them at the African Union (AU).
The forum will act as a coordinating body, exploring best election practices, sharing new initiatives and providing technical assistance to member countries, officials told reporters in Pretoria on Thursday. It would also manage a peer-review mechanism for African election management bodies.
The recommendation follows a four-day conference on elections, democracy and governance attended by 51 of the 53 AU member states in Pretoria this week. In a draft statement, delegates proposed a committee of experts to do the groundwork for the creation of the new forum. Once established, the body would seek observer status with the AU — meaning it would be able to attend all the organisation’s meetings.
The forum would create a committee to examine mechanisms for a peer-review system. It would also establish a committee to consider funding options for election bodies, and a third committee to investigate the possibility of creating or designating a permanent research institute to examine best election management practices.
The conference document says the forum may incorporate existing election groupings on the continent. Brigalia Bam, chairperson of South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission, said the forum would not duplicate work already being done.
It would be an AU body, but would function independently. At a later stage it might also serve as an advisory body to the AU on election management, said Said Djinnit, the AU’s interim commissioner. The meeting also adopted a wide range of principles, including that each African country should have an independent electoral management body.
African constitutions should spell out the tenure of heads of state and governments, allow for political pluralism and freedom of association as well as promote accountability of elected representatives. The independence of election bodies should be secured constitutionally and their budgets should be voted directly by legislative bodies, the conference document states. – Sapa