The delegation arrived in Lesotho Wednesday, 15 May 2002 and will be around until Wednesday 29, same month.  During this stay, the delegation, which comprises Members of Parliament from ruling and opposition parties in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe will hold consultations with stakeholders that include, political parties, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), organisations of the civil society, the local monitors, international observers, the media and relevant Government Departments.

The work-plan for the stay of the delegation as was reported on 14 May is as follows:   Sunday, 19 May 2002, the delegation would split into 12 teams, nine of which would be deployed in the nine districts of Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Berea, Mafeteng, Mohale's Hoek, Quthing, Qacha's Nek, Thaba-Tseka and Mokhotlong.  Three teams would remain in Maseru.  The teams would be based in and operate in their respective districts until the day after voting, Sunday, 26 May.

Plans are that, while in the field, the observers consult with electoral stakeholders and other observers, in addition to attending election related meetings and rallies, observing the campaign, analysing media coverage of the electoral process, voting, counting, tabulation and announcement of results, among other election-related activities.  On a daily basis, field teams would send reports to the mission headquarters in Maseru.

This general election is the seventh in the region to be observed by the SADC PF since the year 1999.  In the past, the Forum observed and pronounced itself on the conduct of elections in Mozambique (1999), Namibia (1999), Zimbabwe-parliamentary (2000), Mauritius (2000), Tanzania (2000), Zambia (2001) and more recently, Zimbabwe-presidential (2002).  The current mission follows-up on that (the mission) of the 'observers on voter registration' that the Forum deployed in Lesotho, July to August 2001.

The observations and recommendations of the voter registration mission are well documented and were shared with shareholders.  The current observation exercise is aimed at:

(i)   Demonstrating regional support for a credible electoral process;

(ii)  Assessing the conduct, credibility, legitimacy of the entire electoral process and determine whether the outcome is a substantive expression of the will of the people of Lesotho;

(iii)   Identifying the strengths and shortcomings of the electoral process and making recommendations on possible areas of improvement;

(iv)   Encouraging all eligible Lesotho national voters to come out in their numbers and exercise their constitutional right in a peaceful manner; and

(v)   Proffering any such advise and assistance as stakeholders may request in pursuit of the democratic process.

      Per the established practice, the delegation of the SADC PF will observe and assess the election in terms of the Constitution and the electoral law of Lesotho as read with the SADC PF Norms and Standards for Elections of the Forum in the SADC region.

The SADC PF is an autonomous institution of SADC.  It was established in 1996 in accordance with Article 9 (2) of the SADC Treaty with the express objective of strengthening the implementation capacity of SADC by involving parliamentarians in the activities of SADC.  Membership to the SADC PF is open to national Parliaments whose countries are members of the SADC.  The SADC PF brings together more than 1800 parliamentarians in the SADC region whose vision is to achieve a comprehensive, effective and sustainable regional integration and prosperity, based on democratic governance and freedom in the SADC region; and bring about a united SADC family conscious of its common destiny.

The SADC PF election observation mission to Lesotho calls on all the people of Lesotho to campaign and vote in peace and for all stakeholders; political parties, the IEC, security agencies, civil society organisations, to exercise patience, tolerance and a sense of brotherhood in the 25 May electoral process.

The SADC PF thanks Government of Lesotho for the invitation to observe this important process and salutes the people of Lesotho for working together and finding their national solution to the problems of the post-1998 election.

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Statement Issued in Maseru, Lesotho  -  Signed by Secretary General of the SADC PF :  Kasuka Mutukwa - 14 May 2002

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FOR REFERENCE, CONTACT:   SADC PF, Private Bag 13 361, Windhoek, Namibia;  Tel. No.:  (+264 - 61) 24 64 61/24 93 21; Fax. No.:  (+264 - 61) 25 46 42 /24 75 69;  email add.:  info@sadcpf.org;  website:  www.sadcpf.org