Commonwealth to oversee elections in Zambia and Gambia

ACCRA, December 20 -- The Commonwealth Secretariat would send two officials
each to Zambia and Gambia to oversee elections in the two countries, Mr.
Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary-General announced on Wednesday.

A statement issued by the Secretariat Information and Public Affairs
Division in Accra said, the two officials were to be present at "the
Presidential, National Assembly and Local Government Elections in Zambia
later this month and at the National Assembly elections in the Gambia in
January 2002."

It said the decision was in response to invitations from the election
management bodies of the two countries.

The statement quoted Mr. Mckinnon as saying: "My representatives will be to
gain a broad overview of the environment in which the elections take place,
the electoral process and the elections themselves and then to report back
to me on their return.

"I hope that their presence will be an important contribution to the
strengthening of democracy in both countries," he added.

It named Mr. Hanif Vally, and Mr. Martin Kasirye, Deputy Director and
Senior Programme Officer respectively in the Secretariat as those are to
visit Zambia for the elections on December 27, 2001.

Dr B. S. Mohd Tap and Dr Jackie Dugard, Deputy Director and Programme
Officer of the Commonwealth Secretariat respectively, would observe the
Gambia elections to be held on January 17, 2002. - africast/GNA

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