The Extraordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO), held on 15 September 2020 took a decision not to deploy a physical SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to the Republic of Seychelles. This was in consideration of the challenges occasioned by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as, the 14-day mandatory quarantine period which all international election observation missions have to comply with, as per the COVID-19 regulations of the Government of Seychelles.
In this regard, I have appointed Honourable Dr. Lemogang Kwape, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Botswana, and Chairperson of the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, as the Head of the Virtual Mission (HoM) to the 2020 Presidential and National Assembly Elections of the Republic of Seychelles.
The HoM is supported by representatives from Organ Troika Member States, namely, the Republics of South Africa and Zimbabwe, the Incoming and Outgoing Chair of the Organ, respectively; as well as SADC Electoral Advisory Council members. The Mission has been tasked with conducting virtual engagements with key electoral stakeholders in the build up to the elections.
The HoM has kept me abreast of developments and emerging issues from the stakeholder engagements. These engagements are aimed at assessing the country’s preparedness for the elections and the extent to which the country has complied with the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2015).
I wish to commend the people of the Republic of Seychelles for the peaceful and exemplary manner in which they have conducted themselves during the election campaign period, and urge them to maintain the same spirit as they vote.
On behalf of SADC and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to take this opportunity to wish the people of Seychelles, the Electoral Commission of Seychelles (ECS) and all contesting candidates, peaceful and successful elections. I call upon and encourage all citizens to remain calm and patient and to demonstrate political maturity as they vote on 22nd – 24th October 2020.
