Africa-Press – Tanzania. IN a significant step towards strengthening electoral integrity across Southern Africa, a five-day intensive training for 100 Tanzanian electoral stakeholders commenced on Wednesday in Dar es Salaam.
The workshop, running from 20th to 24th August, is designed to equip participants with advanced skills for serving on SADC Electoral Observation Missions (SEOMs) using a new ICT-based methodology.
The opening ceremony was presided over by the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) Member representing Tanzania, Rtd Judge Dr Fauz Twaib.
In his welcome remarks, Dr Twaib underscored the critical role of well-trained observers in consolidating democracy and good governance within the 16-nation regional bloc.
“This training is intended to equip you with the necessary skills, knowledge and tools for you to be able to observe all the General Election held in our SADC Member States,” Dr Twaib told the assembled participants, who included government officials, civil society representatives and election experts.
“As part of the region’s efforts for consolidating democracy and good governance, you will be deployed to other SADC Member States to witness how registered voters exercise their democratic rights to choose their leaders.”
The training is a collaborative effort organised by the SADC Secretariat, the SEAC, the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) and Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A key focus of the curriculum is the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021), the benchmark against which all electoral processes in the region are measured.
Dr Twaib emphasised that a deep understanding of these principles is mandatory for observers to effectively assess a member state’s compliance.
“Observers should possess, amongst other requisites, knowledge of the SADC Principles and Guidelines… should be prepared to undergo intensive election training… and should know and be prepared, to abide by the Code of Conduct for SEOMs,” he stated, quoting from the treaty document.
The programme covers a wide range of critical topics, including the benchmarks for democratic elections, operating under public health emergencies, understanding the electoral cycle and information gathering.
A central component involves hands-on training with technology, where participants will be introduced to the use of tablets for data collection and transmission in the field.
The initiative aims to build a larger, more proficient pool of election observers for the SADC region. Dr Twaib expressed his earnest hope that the training would yield lasting success, culminating in the building of a wider pool of election observers.
The event was also attended by Dr Leonard Lenna Sesa (SEAC member for Botswana), Ms Lilian Mukasa (representing Tanzania’s SADC National Contact Point) and Mr Magabolle Mafiri (representing the SADC Organ Directorate on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs)
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