H.E. Dr. Amani Abeid Karume Launches SADC Electoral Observation Mission for Mozambique Elections
H.E. Dr. Amani Abeid Karume, Former President of Zanzibar and Head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM), officially launched the mission today in Maputo, ahead of Mozambique’s Presidential, Legislative, and Provincial Elections scheduled for October 9, 2024.
The launch ceremony gathered key stakeholders, including ambassadors and high commissioners accredited to Mozambique, representatives from the Mozambican government, the National Electoral Commission (CNE), political parties, religious leaders, civil society members, and local and international media partners. Following the launch, Dr. Karume officially dispatched the SADC observers, emphasizing the critical role of their training in effectively monitoring the pre-election, election day, and post-election processes.
Dr. Karume highlighted that the SEOM would assess the elections based on the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021). These principles advocate for full citizen participation in democratic processes, respect for human rights, prevention of corruption and political violence, and equal access for all political parties to state media.
The Head of Mission praised the efforts of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), which has addressed the ongoing terrorist insurgency in Northern Mozambique. He acknowledged the Mozambican government’s commitment to preserving the progress made by SAMIM and commended the work of the Mozambican Defence Forces and security agencies, ensuring that affected communities could register and vote despite prevailing security challenges.
The SEOM leadership extended wishes for a peaceful election, urging all registered voters to participate on October 9. They also called on political stakeholders in Mozambique to engage maturely, respecting differing views, and to uphold responsible behavior throughout the electoral process and its aftermath.
Professor Kula Ishmael Theletsane, Director of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, stressed the significance of democratic practices in the region, stating, “The common aspiration of transforming the SADC region into a fully integrated space relies heavily on its overall resilience in commanding democracy, good governance, peace, and stability.”
The SEOM arrived in Mozambique on September 24, 2024, and will remain until October 20, 2024, comprising 97 personnel, including 52 observers from ten SADC Member States: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Observers will be deployed across all 11 provinces of Mozambique, ensuring comprehensive coverage during the electoral process.
Source: SADC
