EISA

Facebook Linkedin
Call us on +27 11 381 6000
Menu
Menu
Menu

Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Home > Southern African Development Community (SADC)
journal of african elections vol11 number 2 transparent democratic governance in africa

Partying Along in Silence: Violence against Women and South African Political Party Manifestos for the Local Government Elections of May 2011

The high incidence of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, as well as its serious consequences, makes such violence a matter of central policy concern to women. Local government programmes provide ample scope for intervening in GBV. But to what extent do political parties recognise this local-level role? To explore this question the authors analysed […]

The Challenge of Political Legitimacy Posed by the 2007 General Election

The placing of electoral democracy at the top of the SADC agenda is steadily beginning to pay dividends – Swaziland is the only country in Southern Africa which does not hold democratic elections. Since democratisation in 1993 Lesotho has held four elections. This paper considers the 2007 election, discussing the electoral process and the subsequent […]

The 2007 General Election in Lesotho: Abuse of the MMP System?

Lesotho took an innovative step forward in 2001, when the introduction of the MMP electoral system became a central part of the political and consensual solutions to the upheaval following the 1998 elections. MMP combines proportional representation on a national scale with single-member constituencies and the solution was seen by many as a promising step […]

What Future for Electoral Studies?: A Critique

Using approaches drawn from critical theory this paper explores the idea of electoral studies from historical and contemporary perspectives. It argues that the techniques used in electoral studies – in Southern African and elsewhere – have been corroded by neo-liberal economics and therefore by the rote and routine of management studies. Electoral studies might secure […]

Democracy and Botswana’s Electoral System

This paper underscores the fact that Botswana has the longest-serving democracy in sub-Saharan Africa and yet remains deficient in the application of democratic norms. The electoral system that Botswana uses, the simple majority first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, is one of the elements held accountable for the limited extent of democracy in the country. It is widely […]

Election Management in Cameroon: Progress, Problems and Prospects

Judged by internationally accepted norms and standards election management in Cameroon stands out as peculiar in more than one respect. Firstly, election management tasks are performed by a multiplicity of bodies and institutions, making it difficult to determine who is really responsible at each stage of the process. Secondly, the conduct of elections is governed […]

The Politics of the 2005 Parliamentary Elections in Zimbabwe

The political and legal framework governing the 2005 parliamentary elections played a significant role in determining the freeness and fairness of the elections. The repressive legislation and partisan institutions put in place to govern the previous two elections were perpetuated, with new names, new personalities and invigorated allegiance to the ruling party. The continued use […]

Persistent Inequalities: Women and Electoral Politics in the Zimbabwe Elections in 2005

This paper examines the 2005 elections in Zimbabwe in the context of persistent gender inequalities that have existed since 1980. These inequalities have been exacerbated by an entrenched patriarchal culture and an electoral system that neither facilitates nor adds value to the increased representation and participation of women. The 31 March 2005 parliamentary elections in […]

journal of african elections vol4 number 1 transparent democratic governance in africa

Botswana’s 2004 Elections: Free and Fair?

The paper analyses the freeness and fairness of Botswana’s 2004 elections. It argues that although Botswana’s multiparty democracy has lasted longer than any other in Africa its elections are free but not very fair. The fairness of Botswana’s elections has been an issue of controversy that has led to calls from the opposition for political […]

  • Menu