Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
THE Southern Africa Development Community has deployed its Election Observer Mission to Malawi ahead of the country’s September 16, 2025, general elections.
The polls will see Malawians elect a president, members of parliament, and local government representatives.
Chairperson of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, King Mswati III of Eswatini, appointed former Eswatini Deputy Prime Minister, Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku, as head of mission.
According to a communiqué released yesterday, the SEOM will be deployed across all of Malawi’s 28 districts.
Observers will monitor the pre-election environment, polling day, and post-election processes to assess the extent to which the elections comply with SADC’s Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).
The mission’s mandate includes evaluating whether the polls are conducted in a regular, free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful manner.
“As per the standard practice of observing general elections in the SADC Member States, the Government of the Republic of Malawi had on 9th December 2024 invited the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to observe the country’s upcoming general election (Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections) scheduled for the 16th of September 2025,” reads a statement from the regional bloc.
In carrying out its work, the SEOM will consult widely with the Malawi Electoral Commission, government departments, political parties, civil society organisations, women and youth groups, the diplomatic community, and other stakeholders.
The consultations are aimed at deepening the mission’s understanding of Malawi’s political and security context, the constitutional and legal framework, as well as the preparedness of the Electoral Commission to conduct the polls.
Current President Lazarus Chakwera is vying for a second term, and his main rival will be for presidentPeter Mutharika.
Meanwhile, SADC is also pursuing initiatives to strengthen evidence-based policymaking in the region.
From September 10 to 12, it will host the Think Tank and National Planning Entities Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, bringing together policy experts and planners to promote inclusive development and regional integration.
