[PPT] - The Electoral Commission, Uganda Launching of the Strategic Plan PowerPoint Presentation

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The Electoral Commission, Uganda Launching of the Strategic Plan and Roadmap to the 2021 General Elections

11th December, 2018

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 Articles 60, 61 and 62 of the Constitution

f the Republic of Uganda mandates the

Electoral Commission (EC) to organize, conduct and supervise elections.

 For effective and successful execution of

its mandate, the EC recognizes the role of the various stakeholders.

1.0 Background

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The EC has therefore endeavored to consult

and involve all stakeholders as much as possible.

The EC pledges to continue consulting and

involving all stakeholders in a transparent manner at and during all levels of the electoral process.

In

developing this Strategic Plan and Roadmap, the EC took consideration of all comments, inputs, critics and guidance from stakeholders basing on the 2016General Elections.

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The EC undertook comprehensive evaluations with EC staff and external stakeholders on the conduct of the elections;

Internal and external stakeholder evaluations
Lira, Mbale, Mbarara, Masaka and Kampala (national

workshop)

Survey of EC employees and Stakeholders
Reports of International and Domestic Observers
Strategic Plan 2011/2012 – 2012/2016

Evaluations highlighted EC strengths and weaknesses, positive reforms and

rganizational gaps.

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Five areas

f

focus emerged during the stakeholders consultations and evaluations;

Continuous
rganizational

strengthening and enhancing working environment within EC (Continuous training

f

election

fficials,

Development of a Standard Operating Manual for the entire Electoral process )

Ensuring free and fair elections
Improving integrity, accuracy and comprehensiveness
f NationalVoters Register
Enhancing the content, conduct, delivery and reach of

Voter Education

Making EC a more service oriented organization

(Customer focus and engagement with stakeholders)

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2.0 Strategic Planning Process

Internal consultations and reviews.
External stakeholders’ consultation workshops

were held to evaluate the conduct of the 2016 General elections.

Retreat
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EC leadership and senior management was held to set the strategic direction and foundation of the new Strategic Plan.

Workshops to craft the operational details of

the Strategic Plan were held.

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3.0 Strategic Plan to 2021GE

Vision: Be a model institution and centre

f excellence in election management.

Mission: Efficiently organize, conduct and

supervise regular, free, fair and transparent elections and referenda to enhance democracy and good governance.

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Core Values In the performance of our mission and to facilitate realize our vision, the organization will subscribe to the following core values: -

Independence and Impartiality
Professionalism, Competence and Efficiency
Integrity and Accountability
Transparency and Inclusiveness
Service Orientated/ Stakeholder Focused.

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Strategic Key Result Areas

The Strategic Plan is Anchored on Six Key Result Areas (KRA), namely: -

i.

Free, Fair andTransparent Elections;

ii.

An Institutionally Strengthened Election Management Body;

iii.

Accurate and Accessible National Voters Register;

iv.

Effective and ComprehensiveVoter Education;

v.

Efficient Service-oriented/ Stakeholders Focused Election Management Body; and

vi.

Strengthened Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

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KRA 1: Free , Fair and Transparent Elections

Strategic Objective No. 1: Improve democracy and good governance by conducting free, fair and transparent elections.

 Sensitization of the stakeholders on the legal framework regarding

electoral processes

 Involvement of local leaders  Sensitize the stakeholders on the code of conduct to enable a level play

field.

Strategic Objective No. 2: Improve the accountability of EC and government employees.

Timely intervention on allegations of violations of electoral laws.

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Strategic Key Result Areas and their Objectives

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KRA 2: Institutionally Strengthened and Capable Organization

Strategic Objective

No. 3: Strengthen

institutional structures and instruments for free, fair and transparent democratic processes.



Train all EC personnel performing election related duties and functions

n all aspects of election management



Upgrade IT equipment and facilities for effective functioning



Implement the new organizational/ administrative structure



Construction of office and storage facilities

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KRA 3: Accurate and Accessible National Voters Register

Strategic Objective No. 4: improve the accuracy and accessibility of the NationalVoters Register.



Continuous reorganization of polling stations/ centres



Introduce new methods of registering Voters in Special Interest Groups (SIGs)



Register all eligible citizens



Popularize the use ofVoter Location Documents / Technology

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KRA 4: Effective and Comprehensive Voter Education

Strategic Objective No. 5: Improve stakeholders’ participation in the electoral process and promote principles

f democratic governance.



Intensify Commission Stakeholders outreach programs



Intensify Commission school outreach programs



Improved use of Short Messages Services (SMS)



Intensify sensitization through effective voter education approaches



Follow up the integration of voter education into primary and secondary school educational curriculum.

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KRA 5: Service-oriented/ Stakeholders Focused Election Management Body

Strategic Objective

No. 6: Improving

the working relationship with stakeholders.



Improved a communication strategy to sensitize and engage the stakeholders and encourage their continuous participation in the Electoral Processes



Enhance the transparency of elections through accreditation of

bservers

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KRA 6: Strengthened Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

Strategic Objective

No. 6: Improve

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) systems.



Functional coordination committee for the implementation of the Strategic Plan



Digitizing Election Documents



Intensify Monitoring and Evaluation of electoral activities



Intensify Research on election activities

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Est. Cost of the Strategic Plan

and Roadmap

Roadmap

4.0

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 Provide

a basis for better planning, implementation, benchmarking and performance assessment;

 Improve

stakeholder participation in the electoral process;

 Improve

n

the electoral planning and administration;

 Avoid last minute rush in implementation of

electoral activities;

 Deliver

timely electoral results freely and transparently;

 Contribute

towards good governance and security.

4.1 Objectives of the Roadmap

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The EC reviewed the electoral process through the Electoral Cycle in relation to the enabling laws and PPDA requirements for purposes of prioritizing activities and setting timeframes in the Roadmap.

4.2 Guiding Principles

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So generally the guiding principles during the development of this Roadmap included:

Electoral Cycle
Enabling laws
PPDA Requirements
EC Strategic Plan
RO and Observer Reports
Election Reports
Comments,

Critics, Court Rulings, Complaints

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4.3 The Electoral Cycle

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LEGAL FRAMEWORK PLANNING & IMPLEMENTATION TRAINING & EDUCATION REGISTRATION & NOMINATIONS ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN VOTING OPERATIONS & ELECTION DAY VERIFICATION OF RESULTS POST ELECTION THE ELECTORAL CYCLE

pre-election period (preparations) election period (operations) post-election period (strategy)

4.3.1 Major Characteristics

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4.3.2 Major Activities

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4.3.4 Actions for the Post-Election Period

The post-election period constitutes an ideal time for a number of actions, such as:

review, strategic thinking, planning and

action

needs-assessment
evaluation and assessment of lessons

learned and recommendations on a range of different issues (this doesn’t happen often, since there seems to be a missing link between recommendations made by observation missions and the assistance activities that should follow)

consolidation and capitalisation from

the gains made during the preparation and conduct of elections

filling of gaps and correction of

deficiencies

discussing electoral reforms, structural

changes, undertaking institutional strengthening and long term capacity development initiatives, without the considerable pressure of an electoral event

defining long term sustainable support

programmes

adopting and applying lessons and

recommendations, and implementing programmes

legal reforms
arranging capacity development,

institution strengthening and voter and civic education programmes

having dialogue and stakeholder

consultation

making technical evaluation and audits
doing technology upgrades
and much more…

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4.3.5 Enabling Laws

 According to Article 61(2), The Constitution

f

the Republic

f

Uganda, the EC is mandated to hold Presidential, General Parliamentary and Local Government Councils Elections within the first 30 days of the last 122 days of the expiry of the term of Office of the President.

 The current term of office for all elected

leaders expires on 12th May 2021.

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4.4 Categories of Elections

 Presidential  District/City Women Representatives to

Parliament

 SIGs (PwDs, Youths, Workers, UPDF)

Representatives to Parliament

 Constituency Members of Parliament  City Lord Mayor  District Chairpersons

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 District/City Women Councillors  SIGs

(PwDs, OPs, Youths, Workers) Representatives to District/City Councils

 District/City Directly Elected Councillors  Municipality/City

Division Chairpersons (Mayors)

 Municipality/City

Division Women Councillors

 SIGs (PwDs, OPs, Youths) Representatives to

Municipality/City Division Councils

 Municipality/City Division Directly Elected

Councillors

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 Sub-county/Town/Municipality

Division Chairpersons

 Sub-county/T

wn/Municipality

Division Women Councillors

 SIGs (PwDs, OPs,Youths) Representatives

to Sub-county/T

wn/Municipality division

Councils

 Sub-county/Town/Municipality

Division Directly Elected Councillors

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 SIGs

(PwDs, Youths, OPs, Workers) District/City Committees

 SIGs

(PwDs, Youths, OPs, Workers) Municipality/City Division Committees

 SIGs (PwDs, Youths, OPs, Workers) Sub-

county/T

wn/Municipality

Division Committees

 SIGs

(PwDs, Youths, OPs, Workers) Parish/Ward Committees

 SIGs

(PwDs, Youths, OPs, Workers) Village Committees

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4.5 Category of Elections with Elective Positions

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Category

Number of Elective Positions for 2016 Number of Elective Positions for 2021

Presidential

1 1

Parliamentary

427 444

District

3,147 4,273

Municipality/City Division

1,224 1,424

Sub-county/Town/Municipality Division

24,146 30,679

Youth, PwDs and Older Persons Committees Village to National Level

1,325,410 1,503,040

Total Elective Positions for Presidential, General Parliamentary and Local Government Councils Elections

1,354,355 1,539,861

NB: Elective Positions for 2021 are based on current number of Administrative Units

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5.0 Roadmap Milestones

Subject to Article 61 as amended, the Roadmap covers the whole electoral process activities of:



Demarcation of Constituencies



Demarcation of Electoral areas



Reorganisation of Polling Stations



General Update of the NVR



Display of NVR



Nomination of Candidates



Campaigns



Polls

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5.1 Polling Period Articles 61(2), 105(1) and 181(4)

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The polling for Presidential, General Parliamentary and Local Government Councils for 2021 General Elections shall be between 10th January and 8th February 2021; hence setting a benchmark for all

ther

electoral activities.

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Considering the total of over 1,500,000 Elective Positions resulting into so many variations for the production

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Ballot Papers and other Polling Forms, and with campaigns expected to end by 10th January 2021 it implies that campaigns commence latest by the last week of July 2020.

5.2 Campaigns for Local Governments Councils

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For campaigns to commence latest by

Last week of July 2020; Nomination of Candidates for Local Government Councils must have completed latest Third Week of July 2020.

This

allows adequate time for the Production of Ballot Papers and other Polling Forms for the over 1,500,000 variations.

5.3 Nominations for Local Government Councils

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5.4 Campaigns for General Parliamentary

 The Campaigns for Parliamentary Elections

are expected to end by 10th January 2021.

 Considering the over 440 Elective Positions

for Parliament hence the variations for Production

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Ballot Papers, and with campaigns expected to end by 10th January 2021 then campaigns should commence latest by Second week August 2020.

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The

Presidential Elections Act (PEA) Section 21(1) enjoins the EC to determine the manner and period for the Campaigns.

Considering the over 140 Districts, and

with campaigns expected to end by 10th January 2021, it implies that campaigns commence beginning of September 2020.

5.5 Presidential Campaigns

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5.6 Nominations

 Given

the magnitude

f

variations for Production of Ballot Papers, nominations for Local Government Councils should complete by last week of July 2020.

 Nominations

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Parliamentary Candidates shall have completed latest by Second Week of August 2020.

 For campaigns to commence latest by First

week of September 2020; Nomination of Presidential Candidates must have completed latest Third Week of August 2020.

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 The Commission has to fulfill Section 8

f Presidential Elections Act and Section

9 of the Parliamentary Elections Act (PaEA) that provide for appointment of nominations days and time.

 The Commission also has to comply to

Section 4(4)(a) of PaEA to enable public servants who wish to participate to prepare accordingly.

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5.7 Display of the NVR

 An up-to-date and clean National Voters’

Register (NVR) is a cornerstone for free- fair-elections.

 EC, Political Parties/Organizations and all

stakeholders need an up-to-date NVR for the nomination exercises.

 An up-to-date NVR should therefore be

ready by end of May 2020.

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The Commission has to comply with

Section 33(3)

f

the Electoral Commission Act (ECA) to gazette and publicize polling stations at least 60 days before the Display of the NVR.

Preparatory activities for the Display of

the NVR should have been completed by the first week of January 2020, i.e. appointment of Tribunal Members by the Judiciary, recruitment and training

f

Display Officials

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Display of the NVR shall therefore take

place between 19th March and 8th April 2020 in line with Section 25(1) of ECA;

Display
f

the Parish Tribunal recommendations will be completed by 20th April 2020 in line Section 25(1a) of ECA;

Therefore, processing of Display Returns

and production

f

an up-to-date NVR should be completed by the End of May 2020.

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5.8 General Update of the NVR

For an up-to-date NVR to be ready by end

f May 2020, the General Update of the

NVRs (Registration, Transfers) should be done between November 2019 and January 2020 in line with Sections 19(7) and 19(8)(a) of ECA.

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5.9 Types of Registers to be updated

 The National Voters Register (Presidential,

General Parliamentary and Local Government Councils Elections);

 Voters Register for Persons with Disability

Councils/Committees Elections;

 Voters Register for Election of Persons with

Disability Representatives to Parliament;

 Voters Registers for Elections of Persons with

Disability Representatives to Local Government Councils;

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 Voters

Register for Youth Councils/Committees Elections;

 Voters Register for Election of Youth

Representatives to Parliament;

 Voters Register for Election of Youth

Councilors to Local Government Councils;

 Voters

Register for Older Persons Councils/Committees Elections;

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 Voters Register for Election of Workers

Representatives to Parliament;

 Voters Register for Election of UPDF

Representatives to Parliament; and

 Voters

Register for Election

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Representatives of Professional Bodies to the Kampala Capital City Authority.

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6.0 Demarcation of Electoral Areas

Article 181 of the Constitution mandates the Commission to demarcate Electoral Areas (EA) for Local Government Councils Elections to form Local Government Councils and Sections 108,109, 110

f

the Local Government Act (LGA) guide by spelling out:

 Administrative units under play  Number of inhabitants  Population quota for women  Minimum size of any Local Government Council  Levels of Local Government Councils  Levels of representation for each Local Government Council  Important issues like means of communication, geographical

futures, density

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population, area and boundaries

f

administrative units like Parishes/Wards

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Demarcation of EA is further guided by Section 10 of LGA which defines the composition

f

the local government councils to include seats for special interest groups of youth, persons with disability, women and older persons. Demarcation of EA is planned for March – April 2019.

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7.0 Reorganisation of Polling Stations

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Section 33 of ECA as amended orders the EC to publicise a list of all places at which the NVR is required to be displayed and a list of all polling stations, at least 60 days before the date of display or polling day.

 Definition and publication of Polling Stations is a

requisite for the conduct of electoral activities.

 Arising out of comments from previous General

Elections, the by-elections, growth in voter populations, and creation

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new villages, parishes and sub- counties/town councils, municipalities and districts; re-

rganization is necessary.

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Re-organization

involves shifting, renaming, creating and/or merging some polling stations.

The purpose is to;
Reduce distance
Avoid/reduce overcrowding
Catering for newly created Parishes
Relocating to more appropriate venues
Hence

re-organization is scheduled for March – April 2019.

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8.0 Enactment/Amendment of Enabling Laws

 There are various areas in the electoral laws

that require improvement.

 The EC has made some proposals and

forwarded them to Government.

 Considering

the timeframes and commencement of electoral activities for the 2020/2021 General Elections; it is best that all such improvements be made NOT LATER than February 2019.

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9.0 Creation of New Administrative Units.

 There is continuous creation of Administrative

Uits (Villages, Parishes/Wards, Sub-counties, T

wns,

Municipal Divisions Municipalities, Districts).

 Given that Demarcation of Electoral Areas is

based on existing Administrative Units and it is planned for March – April 2019.

 It is hereby strongly recommended that any new

creations be latest by February 2019.

 Otherwise,

more resources SHALL be required to carry

ut

further Demarcation and Reorganisation of Polling Stations.

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EC_SP_RP 52 SUMMARY OF KEY MILESTONES FOR THE 2018/19-2020/21 GENERAL ELECTIONS ROADMAP

No. Electoral Activities Milestones

Start Finish 1 Cut-off of Creation and demarcation of new Administrative Units and Local Governments Thurs, February 28, 2019 2 Enactments/Amendments to enabling laws and Code of Conduct for PPOs Thurs, February 28, 2019 3 Demarcation of Constituencies and Electoral Areas and Reorganisation of Polling Stations Tue, March 26, 2019 Mon, April 15, 2019 4 General Update of the Register in each Parish. In line with Article 61 (1)(e), Sections 18, 19(1) of ECA. Wed, November 20, 2019 Fri, January 3, 2020 5 Compilation of Youth/PWDs/Older Persons/Workers

Registers. In line with Sec. 18(1) of ECA,

Wed, November 20, 2019 Fri, January 3, 2020 6 Cut-off of Update of the National Voters' Register and Compilation of Youth, PWDs, Older Persons & Workers

Registers. In line with Sec. 19(7) & 19(8)(a) of ECA.

Fri, January 3, 2020 7 Display of the National Voters' Register at each Polling

Station. In line with Sec. 24(1) & Sec. 25(1) of ECA .

Thurs, March 19, 2020 Wed, April 8, 2020 8 Nomination of Candidates (Local Governments including SIGs). In line with Section 119, 119A of LGA. Mon, July 20, 2020 Fri, July 24, 2020 9 Nomination of Candidates (Parliamentary). In line with Sections 4, 8,8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8I & 11 of PaEA Wed, August 12, 2020 Thurs, August 13, 2020 10 Nomination of Candidates (Presidential). In line with Sections 4, 9, &10 of the Presidential Elections Act Thurs, August 20, 2020 Fri, August 21, 2020 11 Campaigns for All: In line with Sec. 21(1) PEA, Sec.20 PaEA Thurs, July 30, 2020 Sun, January 10, 2021 12 Polling Period (Presidential, Parliamentary & Local Governments: In line with Article 61(2) of the Constitution Mon, January 11, 2021 Mon, February 8, 2021

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PROPOSED KEY MILESTONES FOR THE PPOs IDENTIFICATION OF FLAG BEARERS FOR THE 2020/21 GENERAL ELECTIONS

No. Milestones

Start Finish 1 Compilation/Update of PPOs Membership Registers Mon, February 3, 2020 Sat, February 29, 2020 2 Nomination of Candidates for Flag Bearers Wed, April 1, 2020 Thurs, April 30, 2020 3 Polling for PPOs Primaries Mon, May 4, 2020 Fri, May 29, 2020 4 Presentation of PPOs Flag Bearers for General Elections Nominations Mon, July 20, 2020 Fri, August 21, 2020

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10.0 Conclusion

This Roadmap and the Strategic Plan with stakeholders support should result into the following:

 More informed electorate and stakeholders;  Credible and accessible voters register;  Efficiency and effectiveness;  Timely

procurement

f

materials and equipment;

 Professionalism

and a favourable working environment; and

 Delivery of free, fair and transparent elections.

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FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY THANK YOU!

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