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LUSAKA. — Regional and international election observers have been deployed across Zambia to observe today’s presidential by-election.
At least 65 observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Election Observer Mission (SEOM) will observe the election.
The SEOM was launched in Lusaka on January 10 by the South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, who is the head of the mission.
“As we head to election day, the challenge and responsibility of peaceful, free and fair elections will lie in the hands of the Zambian people,” she said.
“It is our expectation and hope that all political parties will, as usual, conduct themselves in a manner that contributes to a peaceful and democratic elections.
“This country has over the years conducted peaceful elections and has thus become a beacon of hope in democratic practice and culture.”
The expectations of the SEOM would be guided and measured mainly against provisions and requirements of the Zambia Constitution, as well as the SADC Treaty, the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation and the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.
Traditionally, SEOM observation is undertaken in three phases: the pre-election period, election-day and post-election phases.
The SADC observer mission is expected to interact with other regional and international missions including the African Union (AU) invited by the Zambia government to monitor the elections.
Former South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is head of the AU election observer mission to Zambia.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), which has its headquarters in Zambia, has also sent a delegation of election observers from member states, headed by a Zimbabwean former judge and cabinet minister, Ambassador Simbi Mubako.
The winning candidate will be in office until the next general elections scheduled for 2016. Zambia uses the first-past the-post electoral system for presidential elections. — Sardc.net/HR.
Online Reporter