The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Election Observation Mission continued its engagements in Zambia today, combining observer preparation, high-level consultations and dialogue with key electoral stakeholders as part of its mandate to observe the electoral process.
The day began with a training session for members of the Mission, aimed at strengthening observers’ understanding of the principles, methodology and legal framework governing election observation. The training underscored the importance of professionalism, objectivity, impartiality and respect for Zambia’s national legal and institutional framework throughout the observation process.
The Head of Mission, HE Masisi, emphasised the importance of the country’s legal instruments and electoral institutions in providing a framework within which the elections are conducted. He described the relevant statutory institutions as playing the role of a statutory referee in the electoral process — a referee in whom Zambians should have confidence and whose role is essential to ensuring a credible and orderly process.
The Mission subsequently paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Zambia, H.E. Hakainde Hichilema. The engagement provided an opportunity for the Mission to reaffirm its commitment to independent and impartial observation and to exchange views on the electoral environment.
As part of its broader stakeholder consultations, the Mission also engaged with the former Vice-President of Zambia, H.E. Nevers Mumba, the President of the New Nation Party. The meeting provided an opportunity to hear the perspective of a key political stakeholder and to gain a broader understanding of the electoral environment and issues of concern to political actors.
These engagements form part of the Mission’s efforts to listen to a broad range of stakeholders and assess the electoral process from different perspectives. They also reflect the ICGLR’s commitment to supporting democratic processes in the region through independent, objective and impartial election observation.
As Zambia prepares for the elections, the Mission will continue its consultations and observation activities, guided by the country’s legal framework and by the principles governing international election observation.