Head of SADC Electoral Observation Mission presents Preliminary Statement Following the Holding of 2019 Elections in Mozambique

The Head of the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to the 2019 Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Elections in the Republic of Mozambique, Hon. Mrs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Zimbabwe on 17th October, 2019 presented the SEOM’s Preliminary Statement, highlighting the Mission’s observations of the pre-election and voting processes.

The Head of SEOM was accompanied by the alternate Hon. Ambassador S.K. Moyo and the SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax. The event was attended by senior officials from the Government of Mozambique, Ambassadors and Heads of Diplomatic Corps, representatives of United Nations agencies, SADC Ambassadors accredited to Mozambique, representatives of political parties, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), religious organisations and the media.

In the Preliminary Statement, the Head of Mission observed that the political and security situation was generally peaceful during the elections and that campaign rallies were generally conducted without hindrances.

The Mission commended the National Electoral Commission and the Secretariat for Technical Electoral Administration (STAE) for conducting successful elections and congratulated the people of Mozambique for exercising their civic rights in a peaceful and orderly manner.

The release of the SADC Preliminary Statement was held in conjunction with the African Union Electoral Observation Mission (AUEOM), headed by H.E. Dr GoodLuck Jonathan, Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), headed by H.E. Mr John Dramani Mahama, Former President of the Republic of Ghana; the Commonwealth Electoral Observation Mission, headed by H.E. Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, Former Vice President of the Republic of Kenya; the Electoral Observation Mission of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), headed by H.E. Mr Lopo Nascimento, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Angola; the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (ECF-SADC) headed by, His Lordship Justice Andre da Silva Neto, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of the Republic of Angola; and the Electoral Observation Mission of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, headed by H.E. Mr. Urbino Botelho, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sao Tomé and Principe.

His Excellency Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, constituted SEOM to the elections in Mozambiqu which deployed its observers in all the 10 provinces of the country. SEOM will issue its Final Report within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the electoral cycle in accordance with the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2015).