Tinaye Agere
Richard Muponde
Zimpapers Politics Hub
Sadc has urged Namibians to vote peacefully for their new leaders in adherence to the revised Sadc Principles and Guidelines governing democratic elections.
Namibia is holding its legislative and presidential elections tomorrow.
In her statement on the eve of the elections, the President of Tanzania and chairperson of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, said Namibia has a history of conducting peaceful elections.
“Fellow Members of the Southern African Development Community, the Republic of Namibia will be going to the polls tomorrow, 27 November 2024, to decide on the country’s next President and leadership of the 8th National Assembly, which aligns with the country’s Constitution.
“In line with the revised Sadc Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021) which was adopted by all its Member States, Sadc has deployed its Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to the Republic of Namibia to observe the country’s pre-election phase, polling day and the post-election processes, to determine the country’s adherence to the principles and guidelines, ” Dr Hassan said.
She said the guidelines promote regular, free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful democratic elections as key markers of democracy and good governance in the southern African region.
“Over the years, the Republic of Namibia has maintained an exemplary reputation of being a peaceful nation that upholds democratic principles and conducts peaceful elections across its regions with minor challenges,” she said.
“We trust that the citizens of the Republic of Namibia will once again showcase the delivery of an election process adherent to democratic principles and the Sadc Principles and Guidelines, both on and in the aftermath of election day.”
She called upon all Namibian eligible voters to participate in the vote and decide on their country’s future leadership.
“I urge all political actors and their supporters to secure a successful, calm, peaceful election day and post-election period by acting responsibly,” she said.
“As a region, we look forward to electoral processes that adhere to democratic values and principles envisioned in our Sadc Treaty, the Sadc Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and the Sadc Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections,” she said.
Online Reporter