Former Malawi Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda officially launched the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) in Seychelles on Saturday ahead of the country’s presidential and national assembly elections scheduled for 25-27 September.
Nyirenda was appointed head of mission by Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera, who currently chairs the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Speaking at the launch event on Mahe Island, Nyirenda emphasized the mission’s role in promoting democratic values, transparency and a peaceful electoral process across the region.
“The SEOM will assess the conduct of the elections against a set of central principles that are stipulated in the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021),” Nyirenda said, citing key benchmarks such as citizen participation, respect for human rights, equal media access and safeguards against corruption and political violence.
He urged all registered voters to exercise their civic rights and called on stakeholders to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
The launch was attended by representatives from the Electoral Commission of Seychelles, political parties, civil society, international observers, diplomatic missions and media organisations.
The SEOM comprises 79 personnel from eight SADC member states – Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Observers will be stationed across all 25 districts in Seychelles, monitoring the pre-election environment, campaign activities, polling procedures and post-election processes, including ballot counting.
The mission arrived in Seychelles on 9 September and will remain in-country until 4 October.
JN/APA