Honorable Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Chairperson of the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, and Head of the SADC Electoral Observer Mission to the Elections in the Republic of Mozambique; accompanied by H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, SADC Executive Secretary; and Members of the SADC Troika officially launched the SADC Electoral Observation Mission to the Republic of Mozambique on Friday, 3rd October 2014 at the Hotel VIP in Maputo. The elections are scheduled for 15th October 2014.
The launch ceremony was attended by Honorable Oldermiro Baloi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Mozambique, representatives of the National Electoral Commission of Mozambique, political parties, Election Observation Missions, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Religious leaders, Civil Society and the media.
The SEOM will deploy about 150 in all provinces of Mozambique, on invitation from the Government of the country in accordance with the provisions of the ‘SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections’.
During her launching speech, Honorable Maite Nkoana-Mashabane called for the adherence to the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, particularly on the following provision “ Full participation of the citizens in the political process; Regular intervals for elections as provided for by the respective National Constitution; Equal opportunity for all political parties to access the state media; Independence of the Judiciary and impartiality of the electoral institutions; and acceptance and respect of the election results by political parties of the results as proclaimed to have been free and fair by the competent National Electoral Authorities in accordance with the law of the land”.
Insert photo shows Minister Nkoana Mashabane launching SEOM.
