Online Reporter
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The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has officially launched its Election Observation Mission (SEOM) for Zambia’s 2026 General Elections, reaffirming the regional bloc’s commitment to promoting peaceful, credible and democratic electoral processes.
The mission was launched in Lusaka on Thursday by the Head of the SADC Election Observation Mission, Hon Samuel Tembenu, SC, a former Malawian Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, representing the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Malawi President Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika.
Speaking during the launch, Hon Tembenu said the mission represented more than a symbolic presence, describing it as a demonstration of SADC’s unwavering commitment to strengthening democracy, constitutional governance and peaceful elections across the region.
He said the mission would observe the electoral process objectively and impartially in line with the SADC Treaty, the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.
“The Mission will assess key aspects of the electoral process, including respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, equal access to State media, the independence and preparedness of the Electoral Commission, the conduct of political parties, voter education, election security, media coverage, voting procedures, counting of ballots and the resolution of electoral disputes,” said Hon Tembenu.
He announced that the 2026 SEOM comprises 106 personnel drawn from 10 SADC member states — Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
The observers will be deployed across Zambia’s 10 provinces to monitor the pre-election, election-day and post-election phases, including campaigning, voting and ballot counting.
Hon Tembenu urged registered voters to peacefully exercise their democratic rights during the August 13 elections, while calling on political parties, candidates, supporters and citizens, particularly young people, to reject political violence and promote peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections.
Earlier, SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs director, Prof Kula Theletsane said the observation mission had been constituted in accordance with the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.
He said the Head of Mission was being supported by members of the SADC Organ Troika, the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC), observers from member states and the SADC Secretariat.
Prof Theletsane said SADC had continued to strengthen regional capacity in election observation through training programmes conducted in partnership with the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA).
The SEOM will remain in Zambia throughout the electoral process and is expected to issue its preliminary statement on August 15 after observing the conduct of the general elections.
