Lesotho Sends Observers to Malawian Presidential Election

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will send two of its Commissioners, Mr. Mokhele Likate and Ms Limakatso Mokhothu to Malawi to observe next week's presidential elections. 

IEC Communications Officer, Mr. Rethabile Pholo said Commissioner Likate has been invited into the African Union (AU) Observer and Monitoring Team by the Chairperson of the commission of the AU, Professor Alpha Oumar Konare, while Ms Mokhothu has been invited into the Electoral Institution of Southern Africa (EISA) Observer Mission, by the Executive Director if EISA, Mr. Danis Kadima.

Lesotho’s contribution in preparations of the May 18 presidential elections include the loan of 1,508 Polaroid cameras for registration of voters, which shows a close interrelationship of the electoral commissions  of the two countries, and among electoral management bodies in the SADC region, Mr. Pholo said.

Lesotho and Malawi were both involved in a SADC organised exchange of views on determinants of the best electoral practices, especially those those related to improving elections management, monitoring and observation, and enhancing transparency of electoral processes.

The two are also members of the AU, SADC Electoral Forum, EISA, SADC Electoral Support Network and the SADC Parliamentary Forum, which have committed themselves to supporting the growth and deepening of democracy in Africa. It is therefore in pursuit of these aims that electoral observers are sent to monitor and observe elections in the region, Mr. Pholo said.

Commissioners Likate and Mokhothu are expected back home on May 21 and 28, 2004, respectively.

07 May 2004