SADC

08/08/2026

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗘𝗢𝗠 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

The leadership of the SADC Election Observation Mission (SEOM) is today, 8 August 2026, continuing its stakeholder consultations in Lusaka with political parties and candidates ahead of Zambia’s General Elections scheduled for 13 August 2026.

Led by the Head of Mission, Honourable Samuel B. Tembenu, SC, the engagements include meetings with the leadership of the Revamp for Development Change (RDC) -Orange Alliance, National Democratic Congress (NDC) - Orange Alliance, Citizens First (CF) -Orange Alliance, United Party for National Development (UPND), National Reconciliation for Progress and Unity Political Party (NRPUP), and United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ).

The consultations provide political parties with an opportunity to share their perspectives on the electoral environment, security situation, preparedness of the Electoral Commission of Zambia, voter registration, political party consultations, campaign environment, participation of women and youth, media coverage, electoral disputes and other matters relating to the conduct of the elections.

These engagements form part of SEOM’s broader consultations with key electoral stakeholders to obtain diverse perspectives and assess the electoral process in accordance with the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).

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08/08/2026

07/08/2026

𝗦𝗘𝗢𝗠 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

The leadership of the SADC Election Observation Mission (SEOM), together with the Head of Mission (HoM), Honourable Samuel B. Tembenu, SC, continued stakeholder consultations in Lusaka today, 7 August 2026, as part of the Mission’s assessment of the political and electoral environment ahead of Zambia’s General Elections on 13 August 2026.

The Mission engaged the Zambia Police Service; Africa Institute; an Independent Consultant on Elections and Governance; the Attorney General; academia from the Department of Political Science at the University of Zambia; and the leadership of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

The consultations enable the SEOM to obtain diverse perspectives on the country’s political, legal, security and electoral environment. Engagements with the Police provide insights into election-related security and preparedness; legal and governance stakeholders contribute perspectives on the electoral and constitutional framework; while academia and independent experts provide broader analysis of the political environment and electoral processes.

During the engagement, the ECZ briefed the SEOM on electoral reforms and preparations, including amendments to electoral legislation, adoption certificates for candidates, provisions for mixed proportional representation aimed at enhancing the participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities, and the delimitation process to increase constituencies from 156 to 226.

The ECZ further informed the Mission that it had established a National Conflict Management Committee to mediate minor electoral disputes. The Commission also reported that the printing of ballot papers was finalised in Dubai in July 2026, with representatives of political parties present to witness the process.

The consultations enable the SEOM to gather perspectives from key stakeholders and assess the electoral environment in accordance with the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).

07/08/2026

𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮-𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸

In a significant step towards deepening regional integration and enhancing trade efficiency in Southern Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Trade and Transit Facilitation Programme, successfully convened a High-Level Policy Dialogue Forum in Lusaka, Zambia on 4 -5 August 2026.

Held under the theme, "Getting Ready for Implementation of the SADC Simplified Trade Regime (STR)," the two-day forum brought together 50 delegates, including parliamentarians, revenue officials, trade policy and gender experts, as well as representatives of cross-border traders' associations from the pilot Member States of Malawi, Mozambique, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The dialogue aimed to advance the operationalisation of the SADC Simplified Trade Regime Framework, building on the outcomes of capacity-building and sensitisation workshops conducted in July 2026 at the Kasumulu–Songwe, Tunduma–Nakonde and Zobwe–Mwanza border posts involving Malawi, Mozambique and the United Republic of Tanzania.

The SADC Simplified Trade Regime Framework was established to facilitate informal cross-border trade through simplified customs procedures and relaxed requirements for certificates of origin on eligible goods included in an agreed product list. The framework seeks to address complex rules of origin, eliminate non-tariff barriers and promote inclusive industrialisation across the region.

Read more from the SADC Website at: https://www.sadc.int/latest-news/sadc-member-states-reaffirm-commitment-boost-intra-regional-trade-through-simplified

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07/08/2026

𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

The SADC Secretariat with support from the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries of Mozambique hosted the National Dialogue on Raising Awareness of the SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) Programme (2023–2033) and Natural Resources Management Frameworks in Maputo on 5–6 August 2026.

Facilitated by the SADC Secretariat, the Germany Cooperation and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the dialogue brought together government ministries, conservation agencies, river basin organisations, financing institutions and civil society from across the country to strengthen national ownership and cross-sectoral support for transboundary conservation.

The meeting sought to strengthen national ownership, enhance cross-sectoral collaboration and foster broad-based support for the implementation of transboundary conservation and sustainable natural resource management initiatives.

Read more from the SADC website at: https://www.sadc.int/latest-news/sadc-advances-regional-cooperation-transfrontier-conservation-and-sustainable-natural

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Department of International Relations and Cooperation, SA

06/08/2026

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻, 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮.

The Republic of South Africa has formally assumed the Chairship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standing Committee of Senior Officials for the period August 2026 to August 2027, with reaffirmation of South Africa’s commitment to deeper integration, sustainable development, peace, security, and economic development.

The assumption of South Africa as the SADC Chair of the Senior Officials took place on 6th August 2026 at the opening of the meeting of the SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials Meeting, convened ahead of the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

In his acceptance speech, Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, Deputy Director-General for Africa in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, expressed gratitude to Member States for the confidence placed in South Africa and reaffirmed the country's commitment to advancing the principles and aspirations embodied in the SADC Treaty, Vision 2050, and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030.

The Outgoing Chairperson of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials and Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Ambassador Albert Ranganai Chimbindi, commended South Africa for its stewardship during the interim period and for ensuring continuity in the work of SADC.

Ambassador Chimbindi commended Member States for the significant progress achieved in implementing regional programmes over the past year, noting that such achievements were made possible through the collective dedication and commitment of Member States to advancing the SADC regional development agenda.

Ambassador Chimbindi underscored the continued importance of peace, security, and good governance as key foundations for sustainable development and shared prosperity across the region.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to support the restoration of lasting peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the consolidation of peace in Madagascar as priorities for SADC.

The full story can be accessed on the SADC Website through this link: https://www.sadc.int/latest-news/south-africa-assumes-chairship-sadc-standing-committee-senior-officials-region-prepares

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06/08/2026

𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

has officially launched the Election Observation Mission (SEOM) to the Republic of Zambia’s 2026 General Elections, reaffirming the region’s commitment to supporting peaceful, credible and democratic elections in line with the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021).

The Mission was launched in Lusaka on 6 August 2026 by the Head of Mission, Honourable Samuel B. Tembenu, SC, Former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of the Republic of Malawi, representing His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi and Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

In his remarks, Professor Kula I. Theletsane, Director of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs at the SADC Secretariat, stated that the SADC Election Observation Mission “reflects our collective commitment to safeguarding democratic governance in the region through professional, impartial and credible election observation, while continuing to strengthen the capacity of our Member States to uphold democratic principles.”

Head of Mission, Hon. Tembenu reaffirmed SADC’s commitment to impartial election observation and called on all stakeholders to uphold peace, reject violence and ensure that the elections reflect the will of the Zambian people.

The 2026 SEOM comprises 106 observers and support personnel from 10 SADC Member States who will be deployed across all ten provinces of Zambia to observe the pre-election, election-day and post-election phases of the electoral process.

The Mission will issue its Preliminary Statement on 15 August 2026 following its observation of the General Elections.

Read the full story and statements on the SADC website on 🔗 👇🏾:

https://www.sadc.int/document/sadc-officially-launches-election-observation-mission-zambias-2026-general-elections

06/08/2026

The SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials, which is one of th...