28 Oct 2020

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has commended the people of Tanzania and Seychelles for the peaceful and exemplary manner in which they conducted themselves during the election campaign periods.

  Tanzanians cast their vote yesterday in the sixth general election since the first multi-party elections in 1995 to elect office bearers for the presidency, parliament and wards while the people of Seychelles went to the polls October 22-24.

  In a statement yesterday, President Masisi who is SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation chairperson, expressed gratitude to the Tanzanian people.

 “In view of the challenges brought about the COVID-19 pandemic, the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) could not be physically deployed to the United Republic of Tanzania. Instead, SADC adopted a virtual approach of consultation with electoral stakeholders in the furtherance of the consolidation of democracy in the region, in accordance with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2015),” he said.

   Dr Masisi noted that SADC lauded all the electoral stakeholders who had availed themselves during virtual consultations conducted since October 14.

    Concerning Seychelles, President Masisi said the exemplary manner in which the people of that country conducted themselves during the campaign, polling and counting periods for last week’s elections was a reflection of its political maturity.

In a statement Tuesday, he commended the people of Seychelles for turning out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right.

President Masisi, urged all candidates who contested in the elections to encourage their supporters to peacefully accept the official results as publicised by the Electoral Commission of Seychelles. 

He also implored them to observe the constitutional and Electoral Act of Seychelles  provisions should they have any grievances regarding the electoral process. 

 Meanwhile Dr Masisi has wished the incoming Seychelles government a peaceful and successful tenure following the presidential and national assembly elections last week. 

Dr Masisi congratulated new president Mr Wavel Ramkalawan and his political party Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) for their electoral victory.  

He applauded outgoing president Mr Danny Faure for his commitment to democratic principles and the SADC integration agenda. Ends

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