The Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region

Download the PEMMO (PDF format) in English OR Portuguese OR French

The PEMMO document is a culmination of three years of hard work and involved a great deal of research and consultation in the region. It was adopted at a regional conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa on 6 November 2003 under the auspices of EISA and the SADC Electoral Commissions Forum (SADC-ECF), where more than 100 electoral stakeholders from SADC were present. These participants came from all the 14 SADC countries and represented Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) and leading civil society organisations (CSOs) for whom election observation is a core activity. As practitioners in the field of elections, both EMBs and CSOs have grappled with the demanding task of ensuring the delivery of credible, free and legitimate elections in their respective countries in the absence of a standard tool with which they could measure their success or otherwise.

ECF and EISA are proud to have developed these guidelines for running a professional and legitimate election. In addition, these election principles will serve as benchmarks on the basis of which the observation, monitoring and assessment of elections in the SADC region will be based from 2004 and beyond. They cover the whole period before, during and after the poll. PEMMO also provides guidelines on the conduct observers during the electoral process. It is anticipated that, beyond election management, monitoring and observation, the PEMMO will inform and inspire post-election reviews and election reforms in all the countries in the SADC region.