Online Reporter
Richard Muponde
Zimpapers Politics Hub
SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) on Thursday started observing voting in Zambia, with its leadership observing the opening of polling stations in Lusaka as millions of voters cast ballots in the country’s general elections.
SEOM Head of Mission, Mr Samuel Tembenu, who is a former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in Malawi, accompanied by senior mission officials, witnessed the opening of the polling station at Kabulonga Boys Secondary School.
The observers witnessed procedures undertaken by election officials before voting commenced, marking the beginning of SEOM’s election-day assessment covering polling, closing procedures, counting and the transmission of results.
SADC Head of Communication and Public Relations, Ms Barbara Lopi, said the deployment was part of the regional bloc’s commitment to strengthening democratic governance and credible electoral processes in member states.
“The Mission forms part of SADC’s continued commitment to promoting democratic governance, credible electoral processes, consolidating peace, security and political stability across the region,” Ms Lopi said.
She said the mission’s deployment was being conducted in accordance with Article 8.1 of the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).
Ms Lopi said observers would be deployed throughout Zambia to provide a broad assessment of the electoral process.
“Following the graduation of the observers by the Head of Mission on 05 August 2026, the official launch of the SEOM is scheduled for 06 August 2026, after which observers will be deployed across all the 10 Provinces of Zambia to undertake pre-election, election-day and immediate post-election observation activities,” she said.
The SADC Secretariat said SEOM observers will focus on the opening of polling stations, voting, closing of polling stations and vote counting as part of their election-day field observations.
The mission has observers deployed across all 10 provinces and is expected to continue its work beyond polling day as part of the longer-term observation process.
According to the SADC programme, Mr Tembenu is scheduled to present the mission’s Preliminary Statement on August 15, outlining its initial assessment of the conduct of the elections. The mission will thereafter continue with longer-term observation before its headquarters closes on August 24.
The observation mission has maintained that its work is being conducted objectively, impartially and independently in line with SADC’s regional electoral guidelines.
The deployment reflects SADC’s established practice of observing elections in member states as part of efforts to promote democratic institutions, peace, political stability and good governance across the region.
