SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to the Republic of Mozambique’s Presidential, Legislative and Provincial Elections

In line with her five-year electoral cycle, the Republic of Mozambique will hold Presidential, Legislative and Provincial Elections on 09 of October 2024. Article 3 of the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021), provides for SADC to observe all general elections held in its Member States. 

Following Article 8 of the SADC Principles and Guidelines, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, has appointed H. E. Dr. Amani Abeid Karume, Former President of Zanzibar, as the Head of Mission of SEOM Mozambique, and mandated the SADC Secretariat to coordinate the SEOM, including the facilitation of in-country deployment of observers. 

The SADC Secretariat arrived in Maputo on 24 September 2024 to coordinate technical, logistical and administrative arrangements for the SEOM deployment. They will further facilitate a pre-deployment refresher training for the observers and manage the overall SEOM activities.

The Official Launch of SEOM Mozambique will be held on 03 October 2024 at 11:00, at Avenida Hotel, Maputo. 

The SEOM will be deployed to the country’s Provinces to observe the pre and post election phases and the polling day to assess the conduct of the elections against the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections. These Principles and Guidelines emphasise, among others, the importance of citizen participation in the democratic and development dispensation, the implementation of measures to prevent political violence, intimidation, and intolerance, the promotion of equal opportunities for all political parties to access the State Media and for all citizens to have access to information relative to the elections.