Head of the SADC Electoral Observer Mission, John Kunene, announced at the launch of the mission in Lusaka yesterday that the regional grouping would send about 100 observers to Zambia before the end of this month.
In compliance with the SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections, the first team of electoral observers arrived in Zambia on October 14, 2008, Dr Kunene, who is Swaziland Ministry of Defence permanent secretary, said.
He said currently, the mission had 25 observers ready for deployment and expected the number to increase in due course because lists were still being received at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana.
All in all, we expect to have more than 100 observers for this mission, he said.
Dr Kunene said the deployment of other observers would be done after the necessary and administrative arrangements had been finalised. The observers would be sent to various parts of the country.
He said SADC observers would not operate in isolation for the mission to be successful.
Dr Kunene said observers would cooperate, interact and maintain constant working relations with electoral authorities and various Government institutions including other missions deployed in the country.
The SADC mission is not here to manage the electoral process but to observe the management and conduct of this noble process, he said.
Dr Kunene said the observers would ensure that they operated within the framework of the SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections, the Zambian constitution and local electoral laws.
And SADC executive secretary, Tomaz Salamao, said it was incumbent upon presidential candidates, the SADC leadership and Africa as a whole to continue setting an example of political maturity and practices.
Dr Salamao said worldwide, election periods tended to be challenging times in the minds and hearts of those involved.
In a democracy, there should be no enemies but competitors and therefore compatriots. It is a game in which players propose in different ways how to manage the lives and livelihood of people, he said.
Dr Salamao said the SADC region had made strides in strengthening the participation of citizens in decision-making processes and consolidation of democracy, democratic practices and institutions.
He said all SADC member states had institutions that enshrined principles of equal opportunities and full participation of all citizens in political processes.
Zambia’s extension of the invitation to SADC to observe elections was testimony of the commitment Zambians had in seeking guidance and living by sustainable democracy, political tolerance and unity of purpose.
Post published in: Uncategorized