GABORONE-The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is conducting an electoral refresher training for the SADC Election Observers Mission (SEOM) from 17th-20th October 2024 to prepare observers to assess the General Elections in the Republic of Botswana scheduled to take place on 30th October, 2024.
It should be recalled that, Tanzania’s President Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan who is also the Chair of the SADC-Organ on Politics, Defense and Security has appointed Former Prime Minister Hon. Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda to lead the SEOM Mission to the upcoming Botswana General Election.Speaking at the opening of the training on behalf of Tanzania’s National Contact Person Office, Ms. Lilian Mukasa extended Tanzania’s appreciation to all Member States that have sent observers to join the SEOM as a part of the regional democracy consolidation and good governance efforts, adding that the training is intended to equip observers with the necessary skills, knowledge and tools for election observation.
“We shall receive a training on the policy aspects behind the SADC Electoral Observation Missions (SEOMs) and the role of the election observers from our trainers from the SADC Secretariat and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA),” she emphasized.
She said in 2015 SADC developed the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections that were revised in 2021 to suit the dynamic nature of democracy adding that it was agreed that the Principles and Guidelines be applied to all elections held in SADC Member States.
She further stressed that it crucial for all the observers to learn these Principles and Guidelines, particularly/ specifically Article 14.3 that will enable them to assess compliance during the elections.
She said the training will equip observers with knowledge, benchmarks and principles for democratic elections; the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections; election observation under public health emergencies (e.g. covid-19 pandemic);
Understanding the electoral cycle; assessment of the phases of the electoral cycle; electoral systems in the SADC region, information gathering skills; and the use of tablets and data collection and transmission.
On 30th October 2024, Batswana will determine the 13th Parliament as well as elect local councils nationwide where 61 seats in the National Assembly and 609 local council seats, will be contested using first-past-the-post voting system.
The SEOM, will deploy election observers to all districts, cities and towns of Botswana where they will observe the country's pre-election phase, polling day, and post-election processes throughout the upcoming General Elections.