ANNE MAKINDA LAUNCHES SADC ELECTORAL OBSERVATION MISSION FOR NAMIBIA'S UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS

The Head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM), Hon. Anne Makinda, has officially launched the SADC Mission to observe the upcoming General elections in the Republic of Namibia, scheduled for November 27, 2024.

The SADC-SEOM was officially launched in Windhoek, Namibia, on November 20, 2024.

The Head of Mission Hon Makinda was accompanied members of the Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Affairs from the Republics of Malawi, Zambia, and the Chair United Republic of Tanzania as well as representatives from the SADC Electoral Advisory Council and the SADC Secretariat.

Other attendees at the ceremony included heads of diplomatic missions, government officials, representatives from the Electoral Commission of Namibia, political parts, religious organizations, civil society groups, other international election observation missions, SADC election observers, and members of the media.

In her keynote address, Hon. Makinda expressed gratitude to the people of Namibia for their ongoing commitment to the democratic process and emphasized the significance of the upcoming elections in furthering democratic governance in the country.

“SADC observes elections not as a one-time event, but as part of a long-term cycle aimed at consolidating democracy and ensuring that elections are free, fair, transparent, and credible,” she stated.

Hon Makinda also said the SEOM, comprising 65 observers from eight SADC Member States (Eswatini, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania) will monitor various key aspects of the election, from voter registration and the functioning of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), neutrality of security forces and the accessibility of polling stations.

She said SEOM will also assess the broader political and security environment, ensuring that the conditions are conducive to peaceful and democratic elections.

Adding that  SADC Observers will be deployed across all 14 regions of Namibia to ensure comprehensive coverage of the electoral process.

The Head of SEOM emphasized that SADC’s role in election observation is far from superficial, highlighting that the mission follows a comprehensive and systematic approach, which includes monitoring election-day procedures, evaluating the legal framework, electoral management, and post-election processes.

"We do not simply observe for a few days, issue a statement, and leave; our mission is part of an ongoing effort to learn from past experiences and strengthen electoral systems for the benefit of citizens across the region." Hon. Makinda emphasized.

She said SEOM will assess Namibia’s elections based on the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021), which emphasize citizen participation, human rights, transparency, and fairness, and aim to ensure the integrity of the electoral process by preventing fraud, political violence, and the misuse of state resources.

The mission builds on earlier assessments by the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) in 2023 and 2024, which reviewed Namibia’s political environment, legal framework, voter registration, ECN readiness, and provisions for election security and media coverage.

She highlighted Namibia’s strong tradition of peaceful elections, noting that the country’s transition from apartheid to independence has made it a model of peace and democracy in Southern Africa.

“Namibia has set an example for the region with its peaceful and tolerant elections, and it is essential that this tradition continues for the long-term stability of the country,” she said.

The SEOM will continue to monitor the election process closely, with a preliminary statement of observations to be released on November 29, 2024, at 11:00 am.

On behalf of Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation, Hon. Makinda urged all registered Namibian voters to participate peacefully in the elections on November 27, 2024, and called for post-election peace and respect for the results.

"This election is a critical moment for Namibia and the Southern African region, and we urge all citizens to exercise their right to vote, contribute to strengthening democracy, and ensure that the elections are peaceful, orderly, with results respected by all." Hon Makinda reiterated.

The presence of the SADC Electoral Observation Mission in Namibia underscores the region’s commitment to upholding democratic principles and electoral integrity, with SADC’s role in supporting free and fair elections being crucial to advancing peace, security, and regional integration.