BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – In accordance with the five-year electoral cycle of the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Government of Eswatini has invited the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to observe the Kingdom’s General Elections which are scheduled for 29th September 2023.
Following the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021), and in response to the invitation from the Kingdom of Eswatini, His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation deployed a SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM).
This is according to a statement released by SADC yesterday.
SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. Elias Mpedi Magosi.
Hichilema further mandated Elias Magosi, the SADCE executive Secretary to coordinate the SEOM and facilitate in-country deployment of observers.
The SEOM will be deployed to all four Regions of the Kingdom of Eswatini to observe the pre-election, and post-election phases.
“The Mission will assess the conduct of the elections against a set of principles stipulated in the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections of (2021),”
“which include, amongst others, full participation of the citizens in the democratic and development processes, measures to prevent political violence, intimidation and intolerance, equal opportunity for all political parties to access the State Media as well as access to information by all citizens, and acceptance of and respect for the election results by all candidates,” read the statement in part.
To promote electoral integrity, electoral justice, good governance, peace and stability in the SADC region, and to give effect to the commitment contained in the SADC Principles and Guidelines, the launch of the SEOM on September 22, 2023, will include various election awareness activities for the electoral stakeholder to learn and appreciate the work of the SEOM.
In line with the five-year electoral cycle of the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Member State is scheduled to hold General Elections on September 29, 2023.
The Secretariat Support Team was deployed to Eswatini on September 15, 2023, and set up offices for SEOM Headquarters and logistics for the deployment of observers.
Accordingly, in line with the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021), the Secretariat is expected to coordinate technical, logistical and administrative arrangements for deploying the SEOM to Eswatini.
The Secretariat is further expected to facilitate the pre-deployment training of observers and manage the overall activities of the SEOM
The main objectives of SADC are to achieve development, peace and security, and economic growth, to alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of the peoples of Southern Africa, and support the socially disadvantaged through regional integration, built on democratic principles and equitable and sustainable development.
