UHURU KENYATTA: Benefits Of An Observer Leader in South Africa’s Elections

UHURU KENYATTA: Benefits Of An Observer Leader in South Africa’s Elections

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in South Africa on Sunday and has been leading the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) as the country prepares to elect new leaders on May 29, 2024.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, of the African National Congress (ANC), is running for a second term.

He will face Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), John Steenhuisen of the Democratic Alliance (DA), and Jacob Zuma of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK).

As an election observer, Uhuru’s responsibility is to ensure the transparency and integrity of the South African general elections.

Uhuru will lead 65 election observers from 26 African nations, including members of the AU Permanent Representative Council, Pan African Parliament (PAP), Election Management Boards, Civil Society Organisations, Think Tanks, Women and Youth Groups, and other technical teams.

According to the African Union Election Observation Mission rulebook, Uhuru and his crew are entitled to the following perks and advantages throughout their stay:

Finance

Each observer receives an operational advance to cover expenses associated with their work. One team member is in charge of the team’s finances and obtains receipts for all expenses.

Petty cash will be used for petrol, parking, communication, internet, and medical appointments in the event of an illness.

They also receive a per-diem allowance according to the host country’s AU rates. They receive a percentage prior to deployment and the remainder upon their return.

The AU Secretariat is also in charge of handling charges associated with the observers’ trip, such as visa fees and transit.

Airport Pickup/Drop-Off

The AU secretariat picks up all mission participants from the airport and transports them to their designated lodgings.

Accommodation

Members spend the first two to four days in the capital city attending orientation courses.

During this time, all members will be staying at the same hotel where the sessions will be conducted.

If they are unable to secure the accommodation, the secretariat arranges for another hotel and arranges for transportation to and fro.

Observers are given the contact information for at least two hotels or guest houses in their region of deployment. They are given the money to pay for these accommodations.

Translation and Interpretation Services

The secretariat arranges for translation and interpretation services during the briefing and debriefing sessions.

For members who do not speak the language of the country, a professional interpreter is recruited to accompany them for the duration of the mission.

Communication

Each observer receives a SIM card with a registered phone number. They are encouraged to keep their phones turned on at all times.

Transportation

Each observer is assigned a vehicle and a local driver. All vehicles are identified with AU visibility elements like stickers or flags.

The drivers are briefed on their mandate and connection with the observers.

They also receive money to fuel the vehicle before deployment.

UHURU KENYATTA: Benefits Of An Observer Leader in South Africa’s Elections