President Hichilema Reports Peaceful DRC Elections to SADC Summit.
President Hakainde Hichilema is at the forefront of acknowledging the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) dedication to peace and stability in the aftermath of its recent General Elections, holds the dual role of both expressing appreciation and chairing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) organ on politics, defence, and security cooperation.
His gratitude extends to both the government and opposition parties in the neighboring country.
President Hichilema received a comprehensive briefing from the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) Head, Enock Kavindele, at State House today. The President lauded both the government and opposition parties in the DRC for conducting themselves peacefully during the electoral process.
Highlighting the significance of maintaining peace along the Zambia-DRC border, which is the longest shared border between the two nations, President Hichilema emphasized that stability is crucial for fostering economic development in the region.
ZANIS reported that President Hichilema extended his gratitude to the SADC electoral observation mission team, led by former President Enock Kavindele, for their dedication to the mission in the DRC. President Hichilema urged the team to expedite the compilation of the formal report, setting a deadline of January 22nd, 2024, for submission.
Former President Kavindele, briefing the President, revealed the challenges faced by the mission due to the vastness of the country and the high number of candidates. The DRC had 26 presidential candidates, yet the observation mission deployed staff to 14 provinces to assess the electoral process.
Assuring President Hichilema, Mr. Kavindele pledged that the SADC electoral observation mission would present the formal report before the January 22 deadline. This report will then be submitted to the SADC summit by President Hichilema in his capacity as Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics and Defence and Security Cooperation.
President Hakainde Hichilema had appointed former President Enock Kavindele to lead the SEOM in the DRC, with the primary objective of observing and assessing the elections in line with the revised SADC Principles and guidelines.
Additional Source: ZANIS
