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Education and the exchange of experiences, facilitated through our partner organisation ETU, have strengthened the capacity of political parties across Southern Africa to manage political differences through dialogue and cooperation. Photo: ETU.
Publicerad 2026-06-04
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Education strengthens dialogue and political cooperation in Southern Africa

Ahead of elections in several Southern African countries, political parties have been equipped, through education and the exchange of experiences, with the tools needed to manage and accept different electoral outcomes. By fostering dialogue and cooperation, these efforts have also helped prepare parties for constructive cross-party collaboration.

In a region characterised by polarisation, the Palme Center’s partner ETU has strengthened dialogue between political parties through education and the exchange of experiences on coalition-building ahead of elections in countries including South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique.

These initiatives provided the parties with practical tools to manage different election outcomes and prepare for cross-party cooperation.

Ahead of the elections, ETU worked closely with governing parties on scenario analysis and preparations for different outcomes, as well as training in coalition-building.

Following network meetings, concrete support was also provided on how parties could act in practice in the event of a changed political landscape.

The results have been clear.

In South Africa, the ANC quickly accepted the election result when the party received less than 50 per cent of the vote for the first time and was able to swiftly form a unity government for the first time.

In Mozambique, established channels of dialogue between youth leagues helped to keep communication open following a violent election and facilitated a national dialogue.

Through targeted support, ETU has strengthened parties’ ability to manage political differences through dialogue and cooperation.