The Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC countries

12/06/2026

The Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC countries pays Courtesy Visit to Botswana’s President Duma Gideon Boko

Gaborone, Botswana. The Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (ECF-SADC) on 11th June 2026 undertook a high-level courtesy visit to the President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency Duma Gideon Boko, reaffirming the region’s collective commitment to democratic governance, electoral integrity, and institutional strengthening.

The visit was led by the Forum's President and Chairperson of the National Electoral Commission of Angola , Hon Justice Dr Manuel Pereira da Silva. The delegation comprised Mr Denis Kazadi Kadima , Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) of the DRC abd also Vice Presidentof the Forum, Mr Mosotho Moepya , Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa and also Executive Committee Chairperson of the Forum, Rev Dr John Maphephe, the Chairperson of Independent Electoral Commission of Lesotho and also Vice Executive Committee Chairperson. The IEC Botswana Chairperson Hon Justice Barnabas Nyamadzabo. The delegation was supported by the ECF SADC Secretariat Executive Secretary and ither senior members of the participating member commissions.

The ECF-SADC remarks gave an overview of the regional electoral outlook , highlighting the responsibilities of Electoral Management Bodies across the region and the importance of coordinated action in the face of evolving democratic challenges. The remarks underscored the critical role of regional cooperation and cross-border experience sharing as tools for improving the credibility and public confidence in electoral processes.

The ECF-SADC recognized the Botswana’s longstanding role as the host of its Permanent Secretariat since 2005. The Forum also appreciated the smooth transition of power demonstrated by Botswana in 2024 and cited this move as a best practice for the SADC region.

The courtesy visit also provided an opportunity for sharing the challenges confronting EMBs including;

* Sustainable financing for electoral institutions
* Digital transformation of electoral processes and Citizen trust and public confidence in electoral outcomes

04/06/2026

IEC South Africa hosts the 13th New Commissioners Orientation Programme for Southern Africa, 2026.

The New Commissioners Orientation programme effectively started on the 3rd of June 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa , officially opened by Deputy Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Andries Carl Nel. This annual programme planned for 3-5 June 2026 is jointly organized by the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (ECF-SADC) and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and hosted by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa . The programme is co-funded by the European Union through the Strengthening Pan-African Capacities for Electoral Observation and Assistance (SPEC) project.

The participants of the 13th NCO comprise 17 newly appointed commissioners from: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia, Seychelles, and South Africa. The 3-day NCO Programme equips newly appointed commissioners with the knowledge, skills, and practical tools required to effectively manage electoral processes and uphold democratic standards.

Below are the highlights of remarks by various speakers during the opening session of the NCO on 3rd June 2026.

For more information follow this link:
https://bit.ly/49FX2dK

21/05/2026

Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC countries deploys Pre assessment Mission to the Republic of Zambia.

In line with the objectives of the Constitution of Electoral Commission Forum of SADC Countries (the “ECF-SADC”) and the provisions of the Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO) as revised in 2022, the ECF-SADC deployed a Pre-Election Assessment Mission (the “Mission”) to the Republic of Zambia in the period 17-22 May 2026.

The mission was led by Hon. Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission. The Mission comprised 17 delegates from Electoral Commissions of Malawi, Namibia and Tanzania, amongst which were three (3) Chairpersons, two ( 2 ) commissioners and other senior officials from these member commissions.

The main objective of the Mission was to ascertain whether or not preconditions exist for the organization to dispatch an observer mission. Pre assessment missions are also aimed at establishing the level of member commissions preparedness for the scheduled elections including exchanging on possible collaboration and /or technical support as maybe needed by the Commission. The Missions engaged other electoral stakeholders to establish their roles, perspectives regarding the upcoming general elections the general electoral environment within which the 2026 elections will be taking place. The Mission was privileged to witness the Presidential Nomination exercise by ECZ on the 19th May 2026.
The Mission engaged with a cross-section of stakeholders involved in the electoral process, including representatives from academia, political analysts, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, and religious and faith-based organisations, youth and women organizations, representatives of some political parties and development partners.

The Mission shall release a report for the purposes of the debriefing session with Electoral Commission of Zambia.

19/05/2026

19/05/2026

13th New Commissioners Orientation Programme for Southern Africa, 2026.

The Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (ECF-SADC), is pleased to be hosted by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa in partnership with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) to organize the 13th New Commissioners’ Orientation (NCO) in the above period.

The 13th NCO brings together Chairpersons, Commissioners and Chief Election Officers from six (6) Election Management Bodies in the Southern African region who have been recently appointed to their positions. over the past year.

The delegates for the 13th cohort of the regional NCO are drawn from: Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Seychelles, and South Africa. This programme is co-funded by the European Uni on through the Strengthening Pan-African Capacities for Electoral Observation and Assistance (SPEC) project, that is being implemented by International IDEA.

Professional and capable electoral leadership is essential to delivering credible, transparent, and peaceful elections. The NCO Programme addresses this need by equipping newly appointed commissioners with the knowledge, skills, and practical tools required to effectively manage electoral processes and uphold democratic standards. It also provides a valuable platform for peer learning, collaboration, and the exchange of regional experiences. Since its launch in 2012, the NCO Programme has become a key platform for capacity development and knowledge sharing among EMBs in Africa.

Through this joint initiative, the partners reaffirm their shared commitment to strengthening democratic institutions, enhancing electoral integrity, and promoting credible electoral processes across Southern Africa.

More: https://bit.ly/4ukGwrJ

06/05/2026

The Peer Learning Mission in Rome, Italy continues – noting that the strategic partnership for Electoral and Democratic Governance in Africa, funded by the Italy and implemented by the African Union Commission Department of Political Affairs Peace and Security in collaboration with ECES. https://pro-electoralintegrity.eu

05/05/2026

Peer Learning Mission in Rome, Italy underway - 4 to 8 May 2026.

The Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC countries represented by Electoral Commissions comprising CNE- Angola, CEI-DRC, CNE -Mozambique, IEC-Lesotho, EBC- Eswatini and ZEC- Zanzibar , supported by the Executive Secretary of the ECF-SADC Secretariat, are amongst the institutions participating at the high profile mission to interact with Italian Institutions in electoral processes .

The Peer Learning Mission is organized within the framework of Mattei Plan which brings together representatives from 18 countries from various regions to facilitate exchanges with Italian institutions involved in electoral processes. The Mattei Plan is a strategic initiative by the Italian Government to help Africa grow and prosper in areas of energy, education, technology, infrastructure amongst others. This Mission is supported by the European Centre for Electoral support (ECES) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations. The invitation to the ECF-SADC is in line with the Memorandum of Understanding between the ECF-SADC and ECES for collaboration in developing mechanisms for promoting electoral democracy and enhance the holding of credible and transparent elections in the SADC region.

This Mission presents good environment to promote peer exchanges , establish networking and strategic partnerships amongst Election Management Bodies, EMB networks and other key organizations and institutions

05/05/2026

The ECF-SADC Participates at The SADC Parliamentary Forum Stakeholders’ Consultation on the Development of The SADC Model Law on Constitutionalism and The Rule Of Law.

The SADC Parliamentary Forum stakeholders’ consultation on developing a Model Law on Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law forms part of broader regional efforts to strengthen democratic governance and harmonize legal standards across SADC member states. The ECF-SADC was duly represented by two members (The ECF-SADC Executive Secretary and the Chairperson of the Legal subcommittee).

The consultation brought together a wide range of stakeholders – including parliamentarians, judicial representatives, electoral bodies, legal experts, academia, and civil society—to shape the scope and key themes of the Model Law through an inclusive process. The discussion themes included constitutional supremacy, separation of powers, judicial independence, human rights protection, and accountability mechanisms.

The ECF-SADC has also nominated two members of the Legal subcommittee to serve as members of the Technical Working Group (TWG), supporting the development of the Model Law. In line with the Terms of the Reference, The Technical Working Group will provide expert guidance and quality assurance throughout the drafting process to ensure that the Model Law reflects regional constitutional practice, aligns with regional and international normative frameworks, and promotes harmonisation of constitutional principles across SADC Member States.

The ECF-SADC and SADC PP PF entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2025 which, among other things, specifies the areas of cooperation and implementation of projects such as this one and the domestication of the SADC Model law on elections by Election Management Bodies.

The SADC Parliamentary Forum stakeholders’ consultation on developing a Model Law on Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law  forms part of broader regional efforts to strengthen democratic governance and harmonize legal standards across SADC member states. The ECF-SADC  was duly represented by tw...

23/04/2026

The global funding landscape has shifted dramatically. Long-standing funding streams have either diminished, been restructured, or disappeared altogether, leaving significant gaps, particularly in areas supporting democratic governance. As a result organizations are being called to reimagine what is possible. This moment, while challenging, also presents an opportunity to innovate, to adapt, and to build more resilient and self-driven models of resource mobilization.

Over the past six months, I’ve had the privilege of working with the SADC Electoral Commissions Forum (ECF), with support from International IDEA through the SPECS project, to facilitate the development of a forward-looking Resource Mobilization Strategy. This process focused not only on responding to current funding constraints but also on reimagining how institutions can diversify partnerships, unlock new funding streams, and position themselves more competitively in a changing ecosystem. Grateful to have been part of a process that reinforces a critical lesson for our sector: constraints can spark creativity, and innovation can turn uncertainty into opportunity.

Article by Taona Ernest Mwanyisa.
Independent Elections & Governance Consultant | Institutional Capacity Assessment | Electoral Reform & Observation | Africa & Global Experience

The global funding landscape has shifted dramatically. Long-standing funding streams have either diminished, been restructured, or disappeared altogether, leaving significant gaps, particularly in areas supporting democratic governance. As a result organizations are being called to reimagine what is...

16/04/2026