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SADC’s Electoral Charter

From its inception in 1992, SADC has played a vital role in devising standards to help its member states to develop and consolidate democratic institutions.  The majority of the fourteen member states of SADC now hold regular multiparty democratic elections.⁴ There has been no single path to democracy for member states.  Multiparty elections have emerged after struggles against colonial rule, the end of civil wars, and dissatisfaction with one-party systems.  In line with previous SADC efforts to promote common democratic norms and practices, the SADC Heads of State summit approved the Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections in Grand Baie, Mauritius, in August 2004.   These Guidelines provide the principles for the conduct of democratic elections, stipulate the responsibilities of the member states holding democratic elections, and specify the procedures for the establishment and operation of SADC Electoral Observation Missions (SEOMs).

The principles for the conduct of democratic elections include the full political participation of all citizens; freedom of association; political tolerance; equal opportunity for all political parties to access the state media; impartial electoral institutions and an independent judiciary; voter education; acceptance and respect of the election results proclaimed by the national electoral authorities, and legal challenges of the election results.⁵  The responsibilities of member states holding elections include that they take measures to ensure the “scrupulous implementation” of these democratic election principles; establish impartial, all-inclusive, competent and accountable national electoral bodies staffed by qualified personnel; safeguard human and civil liberties of all citizens, including the freedom of movement, assembly, association, expression, campaigning and access to the media on the part of all stakeholders, during electoral processes; and provide adequate resources for carrying out democratic elections.⁶   The SADC electoral charter also identifies the responsibilities of member states to SEOMs, including that member states must accredit the members of the SEOM on a non-discriminatory basis.⁷  There are also provisions for the establishment of an SEOM,⁸ for a code of conduct for electoral observers,⁹ and for the observation of elections.¹⁰   Should a member state invite an SEOM to observe its election, the Chairperson of SADC’s Politics, Defense and Security Organ must constitute the observer team.¹¹