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Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Mulambo Haimbe, says the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) Mission to Zambia is part of SADC’s routine and scheduled engagements with Member States, in line with its Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.
Haimbe, in a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, said this was contrary to claims that the mission had been prompted by a complaint lodged by Patriotic Front (PF) Chairperson for Information and Publicity Emmanuel Mwamba or by any political party.
He explained that, as earlier clarified by the SADC Secretariat, SEAC conducts periodic post-election review missions across the region under Article 7.3 of the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).
“This provision mandates SEAC to conduct post-election assessment Missions after each electoral cycle to assess the implementation of recommendations issued by the previous SADC Electoral Observation Mission, review progress made in strengthening electoral systems, and provide technical guidance on the country’s enhancing electoral preparedness,” Haimbe said.
He recalled that due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, SEAC conducted a virtual post-election review mission to Zambia from May 17 to May 2021, ahead of the 2021 General Elections, during which SEAC held consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
Haimbe stressed that Zambia, like all SADC Member States, participates in SEAC review missions in accordance with the SADC Principles and Guidelines, with the broader aim of strengthening democracy in the region.
“The forthcoming SEAC post-election review Mission to Zambia is therefore not in response to any complaint or concerns raised by any political party or individual against the Government of the Republic of Zambia,” he said.
He added that government looked forward to hosting the SEAC delegation in a spirit of transparency and mutual respect, consistent with Zambia’s long-standing contribution to democratic consolidation within the Southern African Development Community.
A letter dated November 23, 2025, from Onalenna Nthase, Senior Secretary in the Directorate of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, had informed Mwamba that the SADC Secretariat had taken note of his concerns and his willingness to travel to Gaborone, Botswana, to make further representations.
Nthase stated that the issues raised fell within the mandate of SEAC, which was already preparing to travel to Zambia for a post-election review mission under Article 7.3 of the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).
She had added that such reviews were essential for addressing post-election conflicts, assessing recommendations made by electoral observation missions, and encouraging Member States to implement proposals contained in SEAC and SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) reports.
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