13 Oct 2014

As the nation heads towards the October 24 general elections, the Southern African Developments Community (SADC)will deploy election observers across the country.

 South Africa's minister of international relations and cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana- Mashabane launched the SADC Elections Observer Mission on October 10 on behalf of President Jacob Zuma. 

The launch, which attracted representatives of political parties, sought to launch a hoard of election observers from across the breadths of SADC region who had been in the country since October 6, and attended a two day pre-deployment training exercise conducted by Elections Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA). 

Speaking during the launch, Ms Nkoana-Mashabane said Botswana was the oldest democracy in the region hence the holding of the coming elections was a testimony of the impressive strides Botswana made towards achieving democracy. She said the coming of these elections proved that the people of Botswana were in line with the principles of SADC of upholding the rule of law and democracy.

Ms Nkoana-Mashabane, who will be heading the mission, said amongst others, the elections observers were expected to observe full citizen participation, freedom of association, political tolerance, equal opportunity for all to access communication, independence of the judiciary, voter education, acceptance of results as declared free and fair, credible and peaceful.

For her part, SADC executive secretary Dr Stergomena Tax said the SADC Elections Observer mission was in Botswana, “To ensure that the provisions of the SADC Principles and Guidelines governing democratic elections are adhered to in the conduct of democratic elections.” 

And that it, “conveys the message of solidarity to the people of Botswana and support for the democratic dispensation in Botswana in particular, and the SADC Region in general.”

She applauded Botswana for continuing to uphold democratic principles ever since its attained independence, adding that, “the successful democratic experience of Botswana has been a source of inspiration for many countries of the region and the continent.”

In an interview, an election observer from Tanzania, senior assistant commissioner of police, Mr Daniel Nyambabe said participating as SADC Elections observer in Botswana 2014 Elections will greatly assist his country particularly on how issues of security were handled during elections. 

He said that knowledge gained from the mission will assist Tanzania as they head for the polls next year. “The information and experience gathered here will be used next year as Tanzania prepares for elections.” ENDS