[WSIS CS-Plenary] [WSIS THETHA] What does democracy really mean today?

[CIVICUS]

FROM THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL 


What does democracy really mean today?
By Kumi Naidoo, CIVICUS Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer



In the aftermath of the controversial Zimbabwean elections held on 31 March 2005, questions abound about what constitutes a free and fair election. The South African government delegation said the election was free but not necessarily fair. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) took a similar view with media and other

observers saying the election was neither free nor fair. 

The African Union has reserved judgment pending further investigation into allegations raised by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) of problems with voters' rolls and more wide-scale vote rigging. It is worth reflecting not only on what constitutes a free and fair election but on what constitutes democracy more broadly.

Read the full message at www.civicus.org/new/content/deskofthesecretarygeneral11.htm



Best regards, 
Eric
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Eric Muragana
Communications Associate 
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
24 Gwigwi Mrwebi Street ( former Pim) corner Quinn St., Newtown
2001 Johannesburg, South Africa
Tel: +27 11 833-5959 ext no. 136
Fax: +27 11 833-7997
Skype: muragana
Cell: +27 83 758-1032

Join CIVICUS. Visit www.civicus.org
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