Staff Writer
Electoral Support Network in Southern Africa (ESN-SA) Together has urged Africa to harness the power of AI to strengthen democratic practices, uphold electoral integrity, and advance electoral systems across our continent.
AI is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.
Speaking during the Artificial Intelligence and Elections in Africa meeting in Kenya at the weekend, ESN-SA chairperson Rindai Chipfunde Vava, called for collaboration with tech experts to help election observer groups to better understand the capabilities and limitations of AI systems.
“I believe that this conference will provide us all with a valuable platform for exchanging ideas and experiences, fostering collaboration, and shaping the future of elections in Africa,” Vava said.
“There’s a need to ensure the security and integrity of AI systems to prevent manipulation or interference with the electoral process.”
Vava said issues around potential biases in data analysis and privacy concerns are some risks associated with AI, although some of the risks can be addressed through strengthening security systems.
“Let us therefore, embark on this journey of innovation and collaboration with purpose and determination. May our discussions yield meaningful insights, our reflections be profound, and be the beacon that steers Africa towards the fulfilment of its vision,” she said.
She highlighted some of the challenges of using A! such as:
AI systems may inherit biases present in the data used to train them, potentially leading to inaccurate or unfair assessments.
AI may struggle to understand the socio-political context specific to African countries, leading to misinterpretations of events or situations.
AI systems require stable internet connectivity and power supply, which may not be readily available in all regions of Africa.
AI-based observation methods may create tensions between enhancing cybersecurity and protecting individuals’ privacy rights.
There may be resistance from stakeholders if there is a lack of understanding or transparency about how AI systems operate.
She said there was also need to establish secure communication channels for observers to report and share sensitive information to mitigate against interception and data tampering.
Vava said due diligence was needed on the use of AI to empower observers.
Zimbabwe is holding some by-elections next month to fill parliamentary seats left vacant in Harare East and Mt Pleasant following the resignation of former Citizens Coalition for Change members Fadzayi Mahere and Rusty Markham citing infiltration of the party.
Southern Africa has six (6) upcoming elections including South Africa which is set to hold its general elections this year and Madagascar is scheduled to hold Parliamentary elections in May 2024 and Mauritius holds its President and Senate elections in June and Mozambique holds general election in October. Botswana will hold National Assembly and Local and in November Namibia will go to polls in Presidential and National Assembly elections.
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