This journal has seven articles on various aspects of elections in Africa. ‘Electoral Systems, Constitutionalism and Conflict Management in Southern Africa’ attempts to broaden both the theoretical and factual terrain of this interesting epistemological exchange among intellectuals and policy makers on democratisation in Southern Africa. ‘The Need for Electoral Reform in Botswana’ looks at Botswana’s First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system since independence. ‘Electoral Reform and Political Stability in Lesotho’ explores Lesotho’s political and constitutional history and intermittent peace-threatening episodes. ‘Towards Stable Electoral Laws in Mozambique’ looks at how, following a protracted violent conflict that engulfed Mozambique, the country seems poised for stability and economic progress. ‘Elections, Constitutionalism and Political Stability in South Africa’ looks at South Africa’s electoral politics and how historical familiarity with electoral procedures and the development of a strong party system helps to strengthen modern electoral politics. ‘Electoral Violence, Political Stability and the Union in Tanzania’ examines the issues on elections, constitutionalism and problems of political stability in Tanzania. ‘Constitutionalism, the Electoral System and Challenges for Governance and Stability in Zimbabwe’ assesses critically developments relating to constitutionalism and the electoral system, the linkages between them, their significance for governance and stability.
