SADC Deploys Election Observers To Zambia

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has officially launched its Election Observation Mission to Zambia’s 2026 General Elections.

SEOM was launched in Lusaka on 6 August 2026 by its head, Samuel Tembenu SC, former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of Malawi. He was representing President Arthur Peter Mutharika of Malawi, who chairs the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

The SADC Secretariat said the launch reaffirms SADC’s commitment to promoting credible, peaceful and democratic elections in line with the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).

Speaking at the launch, Tembenu said the mission is more than a ceremonial presence. He said it shows SADC’s continued commitment to strengthening democracy, constitutional governance and peaceful elections across the region.

He said the mission will observe the electoral process objectively and impartially, guided by the SADC Treaty, the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and the revised principles governing democratic elections.

Tembenu said the mission will assess key aspects of the election, including respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, equal access to state media, the independence and preparedness of the Electoral Commission, the conduct of political parties, voter education, election security, media coverage, voting procedures, ballot counting and the resolution of electoral disputes.

He announced that the 2026 SEOM is made up of 106 personnel drawn from ten SADC member states: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

The observers will be deployed across all ten provinces of Zambia to observe the pre-election, election-day and post-election phases, including campaigning, voting and ballot counting.

He called on all registered voters to peacefully exercise their democratic rights on 13 August 2026, and urged political parties, candidates, supporters and citizens, particularly young people, to reject political violence and contribute towards peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections that reflect Zambia’s democratic values.

Earlier, Kula Theletsane, Director of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, welcomed delegates and said the mission was constituted by the Chairperson of the SADC Organ in line with the revised principles and guidelines.

He said the Head of Mission is supported by members of the SADC Organ Troika, the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC), observers from SADC member states and the SADC Secretariat.

The SADC Election Observation Mission will remain in Zambia throughout the electoral process and will issue its preliminary statement on 15 August 2026 after observing the elections.

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