SADC To Observe Election Virtually

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) have confirmed that they will hold their Zambian Election Observation Mission virtually.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the community announced that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and specific protocols which are in place in the country, their observation mission will “engage stakeholders during the pre-election, election and immediate post-election phases.”

The mission is due to go ahead from 3rd to 14th August.

Head of the virtual mission is Lemogang Kwape, Botswana’s minister of international affairs and cooperation. He will work alongside SADC Troika member states, including Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe as well as the SADC Electoral Advisory Council and SADC Secretariat.

Election Observation missions on the ground in the country include those organised by the European Union, Commonwealth as well as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).