Page 8 - mdda newsletter cover [Recovered]2

THE MDDA PARTNERED

WITH THE IEC TO

RESKILL THE SECTOR

ON ELECTIONS

COVERAGE.

The upcoming National General Elections taking place Amendments (Electoral Act), Electoral Code of Con-
on Wednesday 29 May 2024 are a significant mile- duct, Prohibited Conduct and Applicable Penalties,
stone for the country’s 30 years of democracy. These and Free and Fair Elections.
Elections will be characterised b significan changes.

As a result of amendments to legislation governing With only three weeks left till the National Elections day,
elections, voters will only be able to vote “anywhere” the Agency is hosting its final leg of the elections
after notifying the IEC of the intent to do so. Failing such capacity building programme by conducting elections
notification, voters will only vote where they are regis- readiness sessions starting on 17th of May with an
tered. Furthermore, voters will be faced with three online session focusing on IEC legislative amendments
ballots instead of the two in previous elections (NPE’s). and announcements , followed by a roundtable discus-
Independents (individuals) may now contest National sion on the 20thMay 2024 to unpack the importance of
and Provincial Elections safety on election day, the role of the church in politics
and the impact of political party messaging. The series
For the first time since the first democratic elections in of events will end with a full day workshop focusing on
1994, voters will have a wider range of options in terms fact-checking, verification and the impact of genera-
of individuals or political parties they want to elect for tive AI on journalistic content on 22nd May 2024.
the National and Provincial elections.
“Elections are a critical part of democracy. They give
As part of its mandate, the MDDA aims to empower power to voters to choose their leaders and hold them
and reskill the community and small commercial media answerable for their performance and level of service
sector with essential information and the right tools to in office. Furthermore, elections enable people through
communicate with their audiences. voting an opportunity to express their views on current
issues as well as their frustrations towards leaders who
In preparation for the 2024 (7th) National Elections, the may be failing them. However, to vote efficiently and
Agency partnered with the IEC during the past year to choose a party or leadership that will enable the fulfil-
implement an Elections training programme aimed at ment of an equitable society, voters need to know
enabling the community media sector to improve their where candidates and parties stand on public policy

coverage of elections activities. Through this partner- issues.” said Ms Shoeshoe Qhu, Chie Executive Officer

ship, the sector will be taken through the Legislative of the MDDA.