The Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN-SA) held its General Meeting on the sidelines of the Africa Election Watch Symposium held in Johannesburg South Africa from the 12th to the 13th of April 2023. The ESN-SA General Meeting discussed many pertinent issues on elections and democracy affecting the region and also unanimously agreed to fill in vacant Board positions.
ESN-SA Chairperson, Ms. Emma Kaliya officiated at the meeting and highlighted funding constraints and the impact of COVID-19 on convening regular meetings. She expressed optimism that the General Meeting would come up with strategies and resolutions to further enhance the Network’s ability to champion democracy in the region.
The Host Director for ESN-SA Mrs. Rindai Chipfunde Vava reported that some of the Network members had become defunct, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, and should be replaced to ensure equal representation of domestic observation networks in the SADC region. She also expressed the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)’s willingness to help with the transition of the Network till it can stand on its own.
Pertinent issues regarding funding of the Network, registration of ESN-SA in either any other country given the threat of the Private Voluntary Bill in Zimbabwe; capacity building of Network on election observation tools and challenges faced by the Network.
Ms. Emma Kaliya of the Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) was unanimously re-elected as the Chairperson of the ESN-SA, while Rev Derrick Marco of South Africa Christian Council (SACC) Western Cape Chapter as the Vice Chairperson. Mr. Luis Jimbo from Instituto Angolano de Sistemas Eleitoral Democracia – Angola; Ms. Pauline Dempers from the Namibia NGO Forum (NANGOF) Trust and Bishop Andrew Mwenda of the Christian Churches Monitoring Group of Zambia were elected as Board Members.
Ms. Emma Kaliya, Chairperson of the ESN-SA Rev Derrick Marco, Vice Chairperson of the ESN-SA
The meeting that was attended by 14 member organizations and the host Secretariat resolved that there is need to fundraise to ensure continuity and sustainability of the Network; the need to build capacities of members on observation tools in order harmonize the Network’s election methodology, the need to share election reports and electoral information for dissemination to enhance visibility of the ESN-SA’s initiatives; the need to organize Election Observer Missions and host members if they are in any country for election related assignments.
In closing, ESN-SA Chairperson, Ms. Emma Kaliya implored Members to remain committed and resolute in pursuit of democratic elections in Southern Africa.
The Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN-SA) is a regional network of sixteen non-governmental organizations working in the area of elections in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and was established in January 1998.
