Head of SADC Electoral Observation Mission Presents Preliminary Statement Following the holding of 2019 General Elections in Botswana

On 25th October 2019, the Head of the Southern African Development Community Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to the General Elections in the Republic of Botswana Hon. Lieutenant General (Retired) Dr. Sibusiso Moyo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe presented the SEOM's Preliminary Statement following the General Elections held on 23rd October 2019.

The Head of SEOM was accompanied by his alternate, Hon. Patrick Chinamasa, and the Director of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, Mr Jorge Cardoso, representing the SADC Executive Secretary Her Excellency, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax.

The event was attended by senior officials from the Government of Botswana, Ambassadors and Heads of Diplomatic Corps, representatives of United Nations agencies, SADC Ambassadors accredited to Botswana, representatives of political parties, Civil Society Organisations, religious organisations and the media fraternity.

In the Preliminary Statement, the Head of Mission noted that the General Elections were conducted in a peaceful and free atmosphere, and the environment enabled the voters to express themselves in a transparent manner. The SEOM commended the Independent Electoral Commission for the professional manner in which they conducted the elections, and the people of Botswana for the political maturity that they demonstrated during the electoral process.

The release of the SADC Preliminary Statement was held jointly with the African Union Electoral Observation Mission (AUEOM), headed by H.E. Excellency, Jallow Tambajang Fatoumata, former Vice-President of the Republic of the Gambia and Head of the African Union Electoral Observation Mission to the Republic of Botswana and Ms. Winnie Magagula, Deputy Chairperson of the Elections & Boundaries Commission of the Kingdom of Eswatini and Head of the SADC Electoral Commissions Forum Election Observation Mission to the Republic of Botswana.

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 the SEOM to the elections in Botswana which deployed its observers to10 Districts of the country. The 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).