Africa-Press – Seychelles. Following his appointment as the Head of Mission for SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) by H. E. Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Honourable Justice Andrew K. C. Nyirenda, Senior Counsel (SC), former Chief Justice of the Republic of Malawi, launched the SEOM in Mahe Island in the Republic of Seychelles on 20th September 2025 in preparation for the Presidential and National Elections to be held on 25th, 26th and 27th September 2025.
The launch was attended by several key stakeholders which included representatives of the Electoral Commission of Seychelles, Political Parties, Members of the Civil Society, International Observers, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Senior Government Officials, and the Media Houses.
Honourable Justice Nyirenda underscored that the SADC Electoral Observation Mission will assess the conduct of the elections against a set of central principles that are stipulated in the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021), such as, the full participation of the citizens in the democratic and development dispensation, enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms such as freedom of association, assembly and expression, observance of the provisions of relevant legal frameworks in relation to the date or period of elections, measures to prevent corruption, bribery, favouritism, political violence, intimidation and intolerance and equal opportunity for all political parties to access the State Media as well as access to information by all citizens, amongst others.
The Head of Mission urged all registered voters to actively exercise their civic and political rights by casting their votes and electing leaders of their choice on 25, 26, and 27 September 2025. He also encouraged all stakeholders to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful, free, fair, transparent, and credible atmosphere and an electoral process that adheres to democratic values and principles envisioned in the SADC Treaty, the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, as well as the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).
For his part, Professor Kula I. Theletsane, Director of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs at the SADC Secretariat highlighted that the region’s common goals and aspiration to achieve the ‘Africa we want’ and a prosperous SADC region relies heavily on the attainment and uphold of fundamental democratic and good governance principles such as the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.
He commended Member States who nominated and deployed observers to SEOMs across the region to conduct the assessment and implement each SEOM as they journey together on their common path of Regional Integration.
The SADC Electoral Observation Mission to the Presidential and National Assembly Elections of the Republic of Seychelles consists of 79 personnel from 8 SADC Member States, namely, the Republics of Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The United Republic of Tanzania and the Kingdom of Eswatini
The observers will be deployed to 25 Districts in Seychelles. The SEOM observations will focus on the pre-election, election, and post-election periods, which includes the campaigns, the polling day, and the process of the counting of the ballot papers.
The SEOM arrived in Seychelles on the 9th September 2025 and will be in the country until 4th October 2025 to observe the elections in accordance with the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).
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