The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will officially launch its Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) in Tanzania on 21 October as the country prepares for presidential, parliamentary and local government elections scheduled for 29 October.
Malawi’s former Speaker of Parliament, Richard Msowoya, has been appointed head of the SEOM by President Peter Mutharika who chairs the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
The mission will be coordinated by the SADC Secretariat, led by Executive Secretary Elias Magosi, with logistical preparations already underway following the arrival of the support team in Dar es Salaam on 13 October.
The SEOM will assess the electoral process across its pre-election, polling day and post-election phases, guided by the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021) that emphasise citizen participation, political tolerance, equal media access and respect for election outcomes.
The mission is expected to engage with a wide range of electoral stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, Zanzibar Electoral Commission, political parties, civil society, diplomatic missions, and youth and women’s organisations.
JN/APA