Sheuneni Kurasha

I am the Programme Manager for Democracy and Governance for the SADC Parliamentary Forum, an association for national parliaments in southern Africa. I have extensive knowledge and experience in Democracy and Governance issues across the SADC region and beyond. Key areas of expertise include election management and observation, legislative strengthening including the issue of parliamentary benchmarks and parliamentary budget oversight. My main role at SADC PF, as well as coordinating election observation missions, include planning, organising, and providing substantive servicing to the Regional Standing Committee on Democracy and Governance and Gender Equity which looks at democracy and governance issues including strengthening the role of National Parliaments in Southern Africa. Amongst the key achievements of the Domcracy and Governance programme of SADC PF are the following key instruments that have been used by National Parliaments and governments to strengthen democracy: i) Norms and Standards for Elections in the SADC Region (2001) which was the first instrument on democratic elections in SADC and has brought sustained democratic elections discourse and electoral reform agenda in SADC by providing benchmarks/norms and standards for elections; and ii) ii) Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures in Southern Africa whose adoption by the Plenary Assembly of SADC-PF in December 2010 was a milestone in advancing Parliamentary Reforms in Southern Africa as the Benchmarks serve as a point of reference on best practices for Parliaments. They ushered in a standards-based approach to the Region’s Parliamentary Reform Process and helping Parliaments’ own evaluative efforts as they are a self-assessment tool. Benchmarks for Democratic Parliaments in Southern Africa are also useful in guiding parliamentary development practitioners and development partners in designing more appropriate parliamentary support programmes. I was previously Assistant Clerk of Parliament in charge of Parliamentary Committees and House Procedures at the Parliament of Zimbabwe. I also served at a Procedural Analyst for the African Union’s Pan-African Parliament. As a result, I have developed an in-depth knowledge on parliamentary issues at national, regional and international levels. I have also worked as journalist, public affairs practitioner and senior public policy researcher in Zimbabwe. I hold a Masters in Leadership and Change Management and a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree as well as a postgraduate Diploma in Journalism and Communication.

Thematic Areas of Expertise