1. INTRODUCTION

On behalf of the Southern African Development Community(SADC), it is my distinct honour to welcome you all to this important event where I will present the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM)’s Preliminary Statement on the conduct of the 2023 Harmonised Elections in the Republic of Zimbabwe.

11 August 2023, Gaborone, Botswana: In line with the five-year electoral cycle of the Republic of Zimbabwe on 22 June 2023, the Government  invited the Secretariat of Southern African Development Community (SADC) to observe the country’s General Elections scheduled for 23 August 2023. This is in line with Article 3 of the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021), which provides that SADC shall observe all general elections held in its Member States.

1. The Extraordinary Organ Troika plus the Republic of Mozambique Summit of Heads of State and Government (the Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit plus Mozambique) of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held at the State House, in Harare, the Republic of Zimbabwe, on 19 May 2020.