ALN News: April 2014 africaliberalnetwork.org Your monthly update from the Africa Liberal Network We have been so busy building the Network, which now includes 35 members, and expanding the reach of Liberal Democracy across Africa that we have not had time to update you on our work recently, but are very proud to now bring you our first newsletter of 2014 with a whole new look. In recent months the ALN has adopted a new logo, which represents the reach and spread of the Network across Africa and the solidarity between our members, and to complement the logo, we have also launched an interactive new website to showcase our work and provide a platform for members to share best practice. You can visit africaliberalnetwork.org to explore it. To read about the work of the ALN across the continent during 2013, you can download a copy of our 2013 Annual Report that was launched last week here. Keep in contact with us via the Africa Liberal Network Coordinator, Aimee Franklin, on [email protected]. The Africa Liberal Networ 10th Annual ALN General Assembly adopts landmark ‘Zanzibar Declaration’ In December 2013, the ALN hosted its 10th Annual General Assembly in Zanzibar, Tanzania, along with host party, the Civic United Front (CUF). With the kind support of our partners, the Liberal Democrats and Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the delegates were able to share best practice in creating a liberal election manifesto, witness the launch of the ALN’s new guide to best practice in political communication and participate in ground breaking debates on trade and human rights. Central to the event was the theme of increasing free trade in Africa, and after participating in a panel discussion and considering a position paper drafted for the network by the Free Market Foundation, the delegates adopted the ALN Declaration on Jobs and Growth in Africa, otherwise known as the ‘Zanzibar Declaration’. The Declaration will form a central part of the ALN’s activities during 2014, as we seek to promote the proposals it contains across the continent. Executive Committee meets on fringes of ALDEPAC Conference The ALN Executive Committee met in Cape Town, South Africa, on 25 January 2014 in order to consolidate the decisions taken at the General Assembly in December and plan ahead for 2014, including plotting out the ALN’s plan to promote the Zanzibar Declaration. The meeting took place on the fringes of the ALDEPAC Conference (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Pacific, Africa and Caribbean) where the ALN President and Vice-President for West Africa also addressed Members of Parliament from across the continent about the Zanzibar Declaration ALN to host a Panel Discussion on Free Trade at the 59th LI Congress The ALN will host a fringe event at the 59th Liberal International Congress in Rotterdam from 27-27 April 2014. Focusing on how to drive increased levels of Free Trade across Africa, the ALN President and ALN Vice-President for Southern Africa are expected to present the ALN’s Zanzibar Declaration to delegates and facilitate dialogue around how barriers to trade can be overcome in Africa to boost levels of intra-Africa Feature of the month This year ALN member parties in South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and the Comoros will all participate in national elections. This month we bring you an interactive, customizable online resource created by International IDEA called the Online Electoral Cycle. The Cycle illustrates each stage of the electoral process, it allows users to identify what they want to achieve in each stage and provides links to many helpful resources. To explore the Online Electoral Cycle click here Member Party News ADF-RDA holds party conference in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso From 14 – 16 March, the ADF-RDA successfully held its party congress in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Attended by the ALN President, Vice-President for North Africa and a number of leaders from other ALN member parties, the congress delegates discussed how to manage the current political transition in Burkina Faso and how to strengthen democratic processes in the country. Member Party News DA gears up for May 7 National Election South Africa The Democratic Alliance is gearing up for the national election on 7 May, and has already launched its party’s election manifesto. With the DA campaign focusing on job creation during a period of high unemployment and voter dissatisfaction, as well as the entry of a number of new political parties to the voting scene, this election is being tipped as one of the most hotly contested and unpredictable elections to date in South Africa’s democratic his Featured ALN Member Party United Democratic Front (UDF) Malawi Dr Bakili Muluzi led the UDF to two successful elections in 1994 and 1999. Malawi saw its first transition between democratically elected presidents in May 2004, when the UDF’s candidate Bingu wa Mutharika won 35.9% of the vote, beating his opponents. The UDF, however, did not win a majority of seats in Parliament as it had done in 1994 and 1999. Mutharika subsequently left the party in February 2005 to form the Democratic Progressive Party. This UDF entered a loose coalition with the Malawi Congress Party during the May 2009 elections, supporting John Tembo of the MCP for the Presidency, and receiving 30% votes. The UDF is currently led by Hon. Austin Atupele Muluzi and will be contesting national elections in May 201 The Africa Liberal Network is a network of liberal democratic political parties spanning over 25 African countries. Through capacity building we empower our member parties to grow their support in order to win elections, get into government and implement liberal policies across the continent. The Africa Liberal Network Secretariat is proudly supported by Copyright © 2014 Africa Liberal Network, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a friend of the Africa Liberal Network. Our mailing address is: Africa Liberal Network P.O Box 1475 Cape Town, Western Cape 8000 South Africa
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 10:18:29 +0000
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