The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Centre for Governance (ACG), a Pan African Focused Strategy, Governance and Advisory Services firm, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a period of one year which provides a framework of cooperation and collaboration between the two parties to contribute towards SADC’s aspirations of a peaceful, stable and secure SADC region.
The Executive Secretary of SADC, His Excellency Mr. Elias Mpedi Magosi signed the MoU on 17th August 2025 on the margins of the 45th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Antananarivo, Republic of Madagascar and the Executive Director of the ACG, Mr. Tumelo Mokoena counter-signed the MoU on 27th August 2025 in Gaborone, Republic of Botswana, in the presence of the SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs, Dr. Judith Kateera, effectively making the MoU enter into force.
In her remarks, Dr. Kateera hailed the signing of the MoU as a demonstration of the potential that exists to collaborate on issues of democracy and good governance in the SADC region.
The Deputy Executive Secretary added that the signing of the MoU comes at an important period when the SADC Electoral Observation Missions (SEOMs) are due to be deployed to the Republics of Malawi and Seychelles and the United Republic of Tanzania between the months of August and October 2025.
On his part, the Executive Director of the ACG highlighted that the signing of the MoU symbolizes the importance of collaboration between SADC and Africa Centre for Governance to achieve regional goals.
Through this MoU, the two parties will cooperate on various areas aimed at consolidating democracy and good governance in the SADC region. Some of these areas include; promoting the holding of regular free and fair, transparent, credible and peaceful democratic elections; promoting common political values, systems and other shared values which are transmitted through institutions; supporting the development of democratic institutions and practices, and encouraging the observance of universal human rights related to democracy as provided for in the charters and conventions of the African Union and the United Nations.
Specifically, the two parties will, in the twelve months of the implementation of the MoU, amongst other activities, support the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) Pre-Election Assessment Goodwill and Post-Election Review Missions in SADC Member States; the deployment of the SEOMs to Member States holding their General Elections in 2025; and SEOMs’ Short-Term-Observer (STO) Refresher Training as well as the in-country Long-Term Observer trainings.
The SADC Council of Ministers at its meeting held in August 2025, in Antananarivo, Republic of Madagascar, approved the SADC-ACG MoU, and mandated the SADC Executive Secretary to sign it on behalf of SADC.
During the countersigning of the MoU, the Deputy Executive Secretary- Corporate Affairs, was accompanied by Ms. Feziwe Matsebula, Senior Officer for Planning and Programming Mr. Magabolle Mafiri, Elections and Good Governance Officer, Mr. Mphatso Kachule, SADC Legal Counsel and Mr. Kitenge Tunda, Mediation and Peace Building Officer.
