SADC Deploys Observers in Malawi Polls

(APA)--A group of 100 members from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Election Observer Mission (SEOM) have arrived in the country to observe the Malawi Presidential and Parliamentary elections to be held on 19 May.

Speaking in Lilongwe Tuesday during the official launch of the mission in Malawi, SADC Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao said the group’s arrival in Malawi signified the importance that SADC and its member states attached to supporting the people of Malawi as they undertook the democratic process. ‘The presence of SEOM symbolises our commitment to support and encourage one another in our quest for bettering and strengthening the democratic practices and processes in the region,’ he observed.

Prior to the deployment of the mission, SADC undertook an assessment mission in April this year for the purposes of preparing for the full deployment of the mission and assess the preparedness of the various stakeholders to the country’s election. SEOM’s delegation leader and Swazi Labour Minster Magobetane Patrick Mamba said the mission in Malawi would undertake three phases of the electoral process, which include pre-election, election and post-election periods.

He said the team was currently in the first phase of the electoral process. ‘Our mission to Malawi was not only in support of the delivery of a credible, transparent and legitimate election by the Electoral Commission but to provide a learning opportunity to the member states,’ he said. In line with SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, the mission will issue its preliminary statement following their observation that will provide an overview of the observation with recommendations.

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