01/06/2026
SADC Launches ICT-Focused Electoral Observation Training Programme in Lusaka.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) has officially launched a regional training programme in Lusaka for 100 electoral stakeholders, aimed at enhancing the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based methodologies in SADC Electoral Observation Missions.
Speaking during the opening ceremony,Ms. Etambuyu Anamela Gundersen, Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said the training demonstrates the region’s collective commitment to strengthening democratic governance, electoral integrity, and regional stability.
Ms. Gundersen noted that the programme comes at a critical time when SADC Member States are intensifying efforts to strengthen democratic processes in line with the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections of 2021. She emphasized that election observation remains a vital instrument for promoting transparency, credibility, and public confidence in electoral systems.
She further highlighted Zambia’s long-standing record of peaceful political transitions, noting that the country continues to regard credible elections as fundamental to national unity, democratic consolidation, and sustainable development.
The Permanent Secretary observed that traditional manual approaches to election observation are increasingly inadequate in addressing the geographical scale and logistical demands of regional electoral missions. She encouraged participants to fully engage in the training, stressing that the skills and knowledge acquired would be essential for future observer deployments across the region.
Also speaking at the event, SEAC Deputy Chairperson Advocate Kasumpa Mwansa Kabalata said the programme is designed to equip participants with practical skills, technical expertise, and digital tools necessary for effective election observation within the SADC framework.
Ms. Kabalata explained that trained observers would be deployed across SADC Member States to monitor electoral processes and assess the extent to which citizens are able to freely exercise their democratic rights. She underscored the importance of professionalism, neutrality, and strict adherence to established standards in the conduct of election observers.
The training programme is scheduled to run until 5 June 2026.