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President Hakainde Hichilema has appointed former Vice President, Godfrey Miyanda, as Head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission to Madagascar.
The Head of State had done this in his capacity as Chairperson of the SADC organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, according to Foriegn Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Stanley Kakubo.
Kakubo in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday said this was in accordance with SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections.
He said Zambia would be leading the SADC Electoral Observer Mission (SEOM) to Madagascar for the Presidential Elections scheduled to be held on November 16, 2023.
“Article 4 of the SADC’s Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections of 2021, provides that SADC shall observe all general elections held in its Member States, in order to promote electoral integrity, justice, good governance and stability in the SADC region,” Kakubo said.
He added that it was in this regard that the Ministry was confident that Miyanda would execute this mandate as Head of Mission, in accordance with SADC Principles and Guidelines, and with the full support of the SADC Member States.
Kakubo said as the SEOM Head of Mission, Miyanda would work closely with representatives of the SADC Organ Troika namely, Zambia, Tanzania and Namibia.
“This will be with the full support and guidance of the SADC Secretariat as well as the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) who will also be an integral part of the SEOM leadership,” he said.
Kakubo said the SEAC’s broad mandate was to advise SADC on matters pertaining to elections, democracy and good governance, based on its critical role of conducting pre-election goodwill assessment missions to any SADC member state holding elections.
He noted that while the SEOM leadership provided oversight and coordination to the overall management of the SADC Electoral Observer Mission, it was important to note that all SADC member state provided officials to be deployed as SADC Observers in all Provinces of the Member State holding elections.
“In fulfilment of Zambia’s obligation as Chair of the SADC Organ, the Head of Mission and his team will work with all relevant stakeholders in that country, as well as other election observation missions towards a credible, peaceful, free and fair elections in the Republic of Madagascar,” Kakubo said.
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