The Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi has appointed honourable Dr. Lemogang Kwape, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, to serve as the Head of SADC Virtual Electoral Observation Mission for the upcoming general elections of the Republic of Zambia.
The elections will be held on 12th August 2021.
The Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Honourable Mr. Dumezweni M. Mthimkhulu, will serve as the Alternate Head of Mission.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and protocols in place in the region, SADC will not have a physical deployment of an Electoral Observation Mission.
Instead, the Electoral Mission will engage stakeholders virtually during the pre-election, election and immediate post-election phases.
The Electoral Mission will constitute representatives from the SADC Organ Troika Member States namely, Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, as well as, members of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC).
The Mission will be supported by the SADC Secretariat.
The virtual stakeholder consultations are expected to take place from 2nd August 2021 to 14th August 2021. Among others, the stakeholders will include the Electoral Management Body (EMB), political parties, members of the media and civil society, as well as faith-based groups.
In its operations, the SADC Electoral Mission will be guided by the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2015).
Read the statement above for full details
