SADC election observers attend training as October elections fever mounts

DAR ES SALAAM: THE shockwaves of the General Elections have begun to rock Dar es Salaam as Tanzania officially opened a training session for election observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) today, August 20, 2025, in Dar es Salaam.

The Deputy Director from the Department of Regional Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ms. Lilian Mukasa, graced the training jointly organized by the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC), the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM), in collaboration with the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA).

 The primary goal is to prepare election observers from Tanzania to participate in observation missions in other SADC member states.

Participants in the training include various election stakeholders from different institutions and organizations, including representatives from the National Electoral Commission of Mainland Tanzania (INEC), the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, the Ministry of Home Affairs, security and defense agencies, and media houses. Also in attendance are members from political parties, civil society organizations, and youth groups.

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Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms. Mukasa emphasized the importance of this training in equipping election observers with modern skills, including the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and data collection systems crucial to electoral observation missions.

“The purpose of this training is not only to provide technical skills but also to enhance understanding of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, revised in 2021, the Code of Conduct for Election Observers, and other key guidelines related to election observation missions,” said Mukasa.

According to SADC, three member states — Malawi, Tanzania, and Seychelles — are scheduled to hold elections this year. However, Ms. Mukasa clarified that Tanzanian observers will not take part in domestic election observation but are being prepared to participate in observation missions in Malawi and Seychelles.

This training is part of SADC’s broader efforts to ensure that elections across the region adhere to democratic principles, transparency, inclusivity, and compliance with both regional and international standards.