Former Prime Minister of Mauritius to lead Commonwealth Observers for 2006 Presidential, National Assembly and Local Elections in Zambia

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon today announced that the Commonwealth Observer Group for the Presidential, National Assembly and Local Elections in Zambia will be led by the Hon Paul Berenger, Former Prime Minister of Mauritius.

The Observer Group will consist of ten eminent persons, supported by five Commonwealth Secretariat staff. The eminent persons are:

The Staff Support Team will be led by Dr Victor Pungong, Head of the Good Offices Section in the Political Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Observer Group will start work on Tuesday 19 September 2006, and will hold a press conference on Thursday 21 September 2006 at the Hotel Intercontinental, Lusaka, Zambia.

The Observers have been invited in their individual capacities and the views they express regarding the elections will be their own and not those either of their respective Governments or of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

For media enquiries, please contact: Mr Daniel Woolford on +260 (0)99 823 233, d.woolford@commonwealth.int.

Note to Editors

The Commonwealth Secretary-General sent a Commonwealth Secretariat Assessment Mission in April 2006, following receipt of an invitation from the Election Commission of Zambia. This Assessment Mission established that there would be broad support from the political parties and civil society for the presence of Commonwealth Observers.

The Terms of Reference for the 2006 Observer Group are:

“The Group is established by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the request of the Election Commission of Zambia. It is to observe relevant aspects of the organisation and conduct of the Presidential, National Assembly and Local Elections scheduled to take place on 28 September, in accordance with the laws of Zambia. It is to consider the various factors impinging on the credibility of the electoral process as a whole and to determine in its own judgement whether the conditions exist for a free expression of will by the electors and if the results of the elections reflect the wishes of the people.

The Group is to act impartially and independently. It has no executive role; its function is not to supervise but to observe the process as a whole and to form a judgement accordingly. It would also be free to propose to the authorities concerned such action on institutional, procedural and other matters as would assist the holding of such elections.

The Group is to submit its report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will forward it to the Government of Zambia, the Electoral Commission, the leadership of the political parties taking part in the elections and thereafter to all Commonwealth Governments.”