A four-day refresher training for the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) commenced in Lilongwe yesterday, as Malawi prepares for its September 16 General Election.
The training aims to equip observers from across the region with knowledge of electoral principles and Malawi’s legal and political landscape.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Mary Kachale emphasised government’s role in facilitating the process.
Kachale | Milimo Chitsulo
“As government, we have a duty to facilitate the training for the observers. Malawi is the chairperson for the security council of Sadc. During the training, the observers will, among other things, be oriented on the revised Sadc principles and guidelines governing elections, the structure of Sadc Electoral Observation Missions, Malawi’s prevailing political and security situation as well as applicable laws, constitutional and electoral frameworks relative to Malawi. It’s important that they get familiarised with the country’s laws about elections,” she said.
Commenting on the training, political analyst George Chaima said the initiative underscores regional commitment to credible elections and highlighted the significance of regional cooperation.
“This regional integration is a clear sign that other Sadc member States would like to ensure that this election is conducted in a free, fair and credible manner. It is encouraging to us as a nation and we must show our appreciation by proving that we are a law-abiding nation and that we can uphold the elections code of conduct to achieve credible results,” he said.
On his part, Civil Society Election Integrity Forum (Cseif) chairperson Benedicto Kondowe expressed optimism about the mission’s impact.
“The fact that observers are drawn from 10 diverse Sadc member-States reflects the region’s collective commitment to support credible, peaceful and transparent elections. This diversity brings a wide range of experiences and perspectives, strengthening the mission’s assessment,” he said.
He added that the presence of a professional observer mission boosts public confidence.
Participants to the training are drawn from Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia.
