EISA hereby announces its Regional Election Observer Mission for the National Assembly Elections that will be held in Lesotho on 17 February, 2007. Leading the delegation is Sir Ketumile Masire, former President of Botswana. The mission will be composed of 14 members representing civil society organizations from several African countries, namely Botswana. Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The mission's assessment will be based on the EISA/ECF Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO). It should be recalled that these principles, which were adopted in November 2003, were drafted in consultation with all electoral commissions in the SADC region as well as civil society organisations (CSOs) that work in the field of elections. PEMMO provides the region with an objective basis in terms of which to conduct and assess elections.

The mission is expected to arrive in Maseru on February 8, 2007 in order to hold a series of meetings with election stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission of Lesotho, political parties, CSOs and academics, ahead of Election Day. The mission will remain in the country until 22 February 2007, observing the voting and counting processes as well as post-polling activities. The mission will cover selected rural and urban areas in Lesotho.

Source: EISA - www.eisa.org.za