Panafrican News Agency

SADC launches Electoral Observation Mission to Botswana elections

Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - The Southern African Development Commission (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation has officially launched the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to Botswana's national elections.

The official launching was held by the Head of the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to the Botswana 2019 General Elections, Lt.-Gen. Dr. Sibusiso Moyo, the Zimbabwe Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Speaking at the official launch which was held in the capital city of Gaborone on Monday, the Executive Secretary for the SADC Secretariat, Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, said the launch was in line with the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2015).

“SADC has been invited by the Botswana Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to observe the 2019 national elections in Botswana,” she said.

She said the electoral observation is based on three phases approaches which are the pre-election phase, the election phase and the post-election phase. The pre-election observation phase will be deployed from 18 to 24 Oct 2019 where it will asses if the legal, political and security environment were conducive to the holding of credible elections in conformity with the SADC principles.

“The pre-election observation phase will continue until 22 Oct, the eve of the elections. The election observation phase will take place on the Election Day, 23 Oct and this will assess the electoral processes and laid down procedures and if the environment is conducive for voters to exercise their civic rights,” she said.

The post-election observation phase will start immediately after elections; the phase aims to promote electoral integrity, as well as peace and stability in the post-election period.

The Head of the SADC Electoral Observation Mission, Dr. Sibusiso Moyo congratulate the Batswana (citizens of Botswana) for achieving peace, consolidation of democracy and economic development for 53 years.

“The principles and guidelines provide an objective and scientific methodology for the observation of elections in order to contribute to the consolidation of democracy in the region by enhancing best electoral practices and addressing any electoral shortcomings,” he said.

He said the SADC Electoral Observation Mission consists of 55 personnel from 11 SADC member states, namely Angola, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The observers will be deployed to 10 administrative districts of Botswana.

-0- PANA MS/VAO 14Oct2019