SADC ELECTORAL OBSERVER MISSION (SEOM) TO THE

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN

THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA

LAUNCH STATEMENT

BY

DR. TOMÁZ SALOMÃO

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY- SADC SECRETARIAT

It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you at this important occasion in Windhoek, the capital of the Republic of Namibia, a city linked to a number of SADC major events. I also like to express our great appreciation and joy for gracing this event through your presence here today.

In the past few months, I had an honour to launch similar missions in Republic of South Africa, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Botswana, and recently the Republic of Mozambique. This is evident that SADC Member States have rooted and entrenched their democratic practices, and Namibia is not an exception.

It is against this background that the Government of the Republic of Namibia and consistent with the provisions of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, invited SADC Member States to observe the Presidential and the National Assembly elections scheduled from 27 to 28 November 2009. The Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, His Excellency, Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique, mandated me, the Executive Secretary of SADC to constitute and deploy a SADC Electoral Observer Mission (SEOM) to the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the Republic of Namibia.

Today’s ceremony marks yet another phase in the continuous endeavor by SADC to enhance peace, security and consolidate political stability to the deserving people of Namibia and the region. Further, today is also a day that SADC is here to ensure that the provisions of the Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections are entrenched as a guide in a democracy.

In this regard, the SADC Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Republic of Namibia have been playing their role of observation and simultaneously acted as an advance team prior to the final deployment of the SADC Observer Mission. The Mission has a sizeable number of observers from all the SADC Member States, which is in a position to cover the breath and the length of the Republic of Namibia and perform observation duties in all the regions of the country. This will be done in line with the Provisions of Clause (5) of the SADC Principles Governing Democratic Elections. Furthermore, the conduct of the Mission will be guided by the Constitution and Electoral laws of the Republic of Namibia. The Mission will extensively cover political and other electoral related activities in the country before, during and after the voting date

In an endeavour to enhance reliability and validity of its findings, the SADC Mission will confer and cross check and compare notes with other observer missions. In this respect, consultative meetings will be held with different political parties contesting the elections as well as the electoral authorities in order to understand the electoral environment.

To date, the SADC Region has made significant strides in strengthening the participation of citizens in the decision making processes and consolidation of democracy, democratic practice and institutions. All SADC Member States’ constitutions enshrine principles of equal opportunities and full participation of all citizens in the political processes. It is commendable that the people of Namibia continue to interact with civility and maturity as required by their Constitution that encapsulates universal values of democratic principles and practice.

To this end, the invitation by the Government of the Republic of Namibia to witness the election process in this country is a proof of the commitment of the country and its people to sustainable democracy, political tolerance and unity of purpose. As our region democratically evolves, there is need to involve all our people in the democratization process of the region.

It has become evident in the region and beyond, that elections tend to present particular challenges in the minds and hearts of those involved but all of them must be prepared to honorably and responsibly win or lose. In democracy there should be no enemies but competitors and therefore compatriots. The process must assure voters and those voted for, to honorably accept the people’s verdict. We therefore encourage the people of Namibia to continue to demonstrate political maturity and responsibility by respecting democratic principles and practices.

I am happy to announce that as mandated by the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, I as the Executive Secretary have established an Office and designated my officials to support the Head of the Mission. The activities of SEOM will be conducted here at:

Hotel Safari
Windhoek, Namibia

In conclusion, after the observation exercise, we will come together again at the same venue for the Mission to communicate its preliminary statement and findings.

With these remarks, it is now my honor to introduce and invite the Head of SADC Electoral Observer Mission to the 2009 Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Namibia, Hon. Amb. Francisco Madeira, Minister of Diplomatic Affairs in the Office of the President in the Republic of Mozambique, and also representative of His Excellency Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to now officially launch the mission.

I thank you for your attention!

18 NOVEMBER 2009
WINDHOEK
NAMIBIA