Distinguished Members of SADC Organ
Troika;
Mr Jorge Cardoso, Director of the Organ on
Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, SADC Secretariat;
Chairperson of the Electoral
Commission of the Seychelles;
Leaders and Representatives of Political Parties;
Heads of International Electoral Observation Missions;
Your Excellencies, Heads and
Representatives of the Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Republic of the Seychelles;
Members of the SADC
Electoral Advisory Council;
SADC Election Observers;
Representatives of Local Election
Observers;
Religious Leaders and Members
of the Civil Society;
Members of the media;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is my honour and privilege to welcome
you to the official launch of the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to
the 2016 National Assembly Elections in the Republic of the Seychelles.
On behalf
of His Excellency Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President
of the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) and the Chairperson of the SADC Organ
on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and indeed on my own behalf, please accept my sincere
gratitude for taking time to be part of this auspicious occasion.
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our Mission to the
Republic of the Seychelles was at the invitation of the Electoral Commission of
the Republic of the Seychelles. This
practice is now part of our democratic culture and tradition in the SADC region
and is in conformity with the SADC Treaty;
the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence
and Security Cooperation and the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2015).
To this end, His Excellency Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President
of the Republic of the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) and Chairperson of the
Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation, constituted the SADC
Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) and mandated the Executive Secretary of
SADC to prepare the logistics for its deployment.
It is noteworthy, that a substantial amount of effort has already been
invested in the preparations for this important Mission, beginning with the
ground work undertaken by the SADC Secretariat, the SADC Electoral Advisory
Council Goodwill Mission, the Troika and other stakeholders, to ensure the
realisation of the objectives and mandate of the SADC Electoral Observation
Mission.
In this
respect, it is significant to note that these National Assembly Elections in
the Republic of the Seychelles build on an enduring culture among SADC Member States
of consolidating democratic practice and institutions through, inter alia, the
observation of national elections.
Over the
last two decades, SADC has developed and enhanced its normative frameworks
governing democratic elections which have contributed immensely to our
endeavour as a region to work toward the realisation of the vision of the SADC
Treaty (1992).
You will
recall that on 20 July, 2015, the Ministerial Committee of the Organ adopted
the revised SADC Principles and
Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, which aim to strengthen our
skills and capabilities of assessing the major inter-related segments of the
electoral cycle in order to provide stronger evidence-based recommendations and
electoral assistance to Member States.
Our revised
set of Principles and Guidelines also require us to operationalise several
stages to our deployment strategy which allows us to have a much better
understanding of pre-election, election and post-election phases of the
electoral process. The inter-related phases of deployment include the SADC
Electoral Advisory Council Goodwill and pre-election assessment Missions; and
the deployment of the Long Term Observers (LTOs); and the Short Term Observers
(STOs).
The
arrival of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council Goodwill Mission on 22 August
2016 ahead of the main Short Term Electoral Observation Mission of the SADC
Electoral Observation Mission, therefore, signifies this enhanced approach to
election observation, which will eventually build our capacity to develop and
sustain Long Term Election Observation (LTO) Missions, as provided for in the
revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.
We are, hence, informed by the SADC Electoral
Advisory Council Goodwill Mission that the Electoral Commission of the
Seychelles has undertaken a range of activities as part of the preparations for
these National Assembly Elections. We have also taken note of the issues raised
at this preliminary stage by the various stakeholders regarding these
preparations and management of the electoral process. We shall therefore,
through the SADC Electoral Observation Mission, consolidate this body of
information in order to arrive at a considered assessment of the electoral
process at the end of our Mission.
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me reiterate that the work of the SADC
Electoral Observation Mission is guided by the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing
Democratic Elections adopted in 2015, which are aligned to the African Charter
on Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007). In addition, the work of the SADC
Electoral Observation Mission is also guided by the relevant legislation of the
Republic of the Seychelles, such as
her
Constitution which
outlines the principles of universal adult suffrage, and defines the electoral
systems and processes; as well as by the country’s Electoral Laws. The emphasis
of course, shall be on the provisions addressing the election of Members of Parliament.
Informed by these inter-related regional and national frameworks, the SADC
Electoral Observation Mission will assess the conduct of the elections against a
set of central principles stipulated in the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines
Governing Democratic Elections such as:
1.
Full participation of
the citizens in the political process;
2.
Freedom of association;
3.
Political tolerance;
4.
Equal opportunity for
all political parties to access the state media;
5.
Equal opportunity to
exercise the right to vote and be voted for;
6.
Independence of the
Judiciary and impartiality of the electoral institutions;
7.
Civic and Voter
education;
8.
Acceptance and respect
of the election results by political parties as proclaimed to have been free
and fair by the competent Electoral
Commission in accordance with the law of the land; and
9.
Challenge of the
election results as provided for in the law.
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to further explain the role of the
SADC Electoral Advisory Council whose arrival preceded that of the SADC
Electoral Observation Mission. You will recall that the SADC Electoral Advisory
Council was established by the SADC Heads of State Summit in 2005 to advise on
matters of elections, democracy and good governance. The SADC Electoral Advisory Council is
composed of eminent Justices, senior advocates and distinguished scholars with
immense experience in matters of democracy building and governance. As is the
culture, the objective of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council Goodwill Mission
was to assess the level of readiness and preparedness of the Republic of the
Seychelles to hold these elections.
We are, hence, reliably informed by the SADC Electoral Advisory Council
Mission that the Electoral Commission and the relevant stakeholders in the
Republic of the Seychelles have taken necessary measures to ensure that the Principles for Conducting Democratic Elections
as outlined in the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic
Elections, are observed. We therefore conclude that the Republic of the
Seychelles is generally prepared to hold elections on 8-10 September, 2016.
Esteemed
guests,
Members
of the Media,
Ladies
and gentlemen,
As SADC observes these elections, it encourages the
Electoral Commission of the Seychelles to conduct its work to the highest
professional standard; the political leadership to play an exemplary role in
terms of electoral conduct; and the electorate to act conscientiously and honourably.
As the SADC Electoral Observation Mission, we are hopeful
that the deployment of our observers will contribute to enhancing the
credibility of the overall electoral process.
As a region, we have made great strides in ensuring
participation of citizens in decision making, as a part of our efforts to
promote democratic values, practices and strengthening institutions of
democracy.
It is notable that our Member
States continue to develop Constitutions that enshrine principles and
provisions of equal opportunities and full participation of all citizens in democratic
processes. In the Republic of the Seychelles, the National Assembly Elections
are regulated by the Constitution, the Elections Act, the Political Parties Act
(2014) and the Electoral Code of Conduct acceded to by all Political Parties.
Furthermore, the Constitution of the Seychelles
underscores the need to ensure that the electoral procedures, among other
aspects, guarantee citizens the liberty to exercise their political rights. It also
recognises universal adult suffrage based on the equality of a vote.
The country’s laws also recognise the need for the
holding of elections that are free from violence, intimidation and corruption,
and the timely resolution of electoral disputes. It is in light of this that we
appeal to all Seychellois, that should there be any areas of disagreement, they
should follow the laid down procedures, as provided for by the laws of the land.
Having said all this, I am pleased to inform you
that the SADC Electoral Observation Mission to the 2016 National Assembly Elections
is now fully constituted and comprises 19 observers from 8 SADC Member States.
As the voting days of the 8-10th September, 2016 approach,
allow me to mention that the outcome of this election lies in the hands of the
people of the Republic of the Seychelles. The manner in which they conduct themselves
will determine the outcome of this election. As alluded to earlier, we strongly
call upon the political stakeholders to strictly adhere to all relevant
legislation governing the elections in the Republic of the Seychelles, which are
provided for in the country’s statutes.
We also urge all political parties to adhere and accept the
results of the elections and lodge their complaints and grievances through the
relevant institutions.
May I, therefore,
take this opportunity to encourage all stakeholders to ensure that these
National Assembly Elections are managed in a peaceful, free, fair, transparent
and credible manner; and that the electoral process adheres to democratic
values and principles; and commend all the stakeholders, for their efforts in
putting in place an enabling environment for holding these Elections.
Lastly, may I also take this opportunity to invite you all to
attend the release of our Preliminary Statement scheduled for 12 September 2016,
at 1100hrs, at this very venue.
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is now my singular honour, on behalf of the
Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, His
Excellency Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President
of the Republic of the United Republic of Tanzania (URT), to declare the SADC
Electoral Observation Mission to the 2016 National Assembly Elections in the
Republic of the Seychelles, officially launched.
Thank you very much;
Merci beaucoup;
Asante sana
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