08 Jul 2021

SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation ministerial committee has approved an action plan for implementation of the assessment of security threats to the region report.

Closing the committee’s 23rd meeting held virtually Wednesday, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Dr Lemogang Kwape said the report contained short-term, medium-term and long-term interventions to be implemented at regional and national levels.

He said the meeting also reflected on efforts towards enhancing regional democratic values and principles particularly adherence to constitutional imperatives on elections even during the COVID-19 era.

“We were encouraged to note that the pandemic has not deterred member states to continue conducting regular elections in compliance with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections,” Dr Kwape said.

He said it discussed measures that could be employed to improve election observance during pandemic outbreaks.

It approved guidelines for election observation under public health and emergencies.

 Dr Kwape said the guidelines provided options to be used for deployment of SADC electoral observers during such difficult times.

He described it as a proactive measure which would be a benchmark for other regions. Ends