02 Aug 2021

 In his capacity as SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation chairperson, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has appointed Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Lemogang Kwape head of the organisation’s August 2-14 virtual engagements with electoral stakeholders for the upcoming Zambia general elections.

In an interview following his appointment August 2, Dr Kwape explained that due to COVID-19 pandemic and resultant restrictions, SADC would not have physical deployment of an electoral observer mission to the Zambian poll scheduled for August 12.

“Instead, the electoral mission will engage different stakeholders virtually during the pre-election, election and immediate post-election phases,” he said.

Dr Kwape stated that SADC had successfully conducted  electoral observer missions before in Tanzania and Seychelles.

The hope was that the Zambian elections would go as planned and peacefully as previous ones, he said.

Dr Kwape said the mission, which would be supported by SADC secretariat, was constituted by representatives of the organ troika being Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe as well as members of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council.

He said he would be working on the assignment with Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Mr Dumizweni Mthimkhulu as alternate head of mission. Ends