SADC launches its Electoral Observation Mission for Namibia’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections scheduled for 27th November 2024

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to the Republic of Namibia’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections was officially launched today, on 20th November 2024 by Hon. Anne Semamba Malinda,former Speaker of Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania and Head of Mission (HoM) for the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) for Namibia’s Elections. The ceremony was held at Mercure Hotel in Windhoek, Namibia. The Republic of Namibia is scheduled to hold elections on 27th November 2024.

The HoM was accompanied by Members of the Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs from the Republics of Malawi, Zambia and United Republic of Tanzania, SADC Electoral Advisory Council and SADC Secretariat.

The event was also honoured with the esteemed presence of various stakeholders including; heads of diplomatic missions, government officials, the Electoral Commission of Namibia, political parties, religious groups, Civil Society Organisations, representatives of the international election observation missions, SADC election observers and the media.

In her statement, Hon. Makinda indicated that      SADC Member States have contributed personnel and resources to constitute the teams of observers under the SEOM. These observers are selected by individual Member States in accordance with criteria set out under the

Principles and Guidelines. The SEOM has a total of 65 observers drawn from the 8 SADC Members States, namely: Kingdom of Eswatini, the Republics of Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the United Republic of Tanzania.

The Observers will be deployed across all the 14 regions of Namibia, namely: Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Kavango West, Kavango East, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa and Zambezi.