05.08.26 -At the Charter House in Lusaka today, Ms. Etambuyu Anamela Gundersen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation received Honourable Samuel B. Tembenu, SC, Former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of the Republic of Malawi, and the Head of the SADC Election Observation Mission (SEOM) to Zambia’s 13 August 2026 General Elections.

Honourable Tembenu, SC, and his delegation paid a courtesy call on the Permanent Secretary following his arrival in Lusaka on 4th August 2026 ahead of the General Elections.

In welcoming the SADC Election Observation Mission, Ms. Gundersen reaffirmed Government’s commitment, under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, to ensuring that the General Elections are held in a free, fair, and transparent manner. Further, the Permanent Secretary assured of Government’s full support and accessibility during the deployment of the Mission.

During the meeting, the Mission informed the Permanent Secretary that 106 observers from 10 SADC Member States have been trained and will be deployed to all the 10 provinces of Zambia to observe the three stages of the elections.

Honourable Tembenu was appointed Head of the SADC Election Observation Mission to Zambia by the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, His Excellency President Arthur Peter Mutharika of the Republic of Malawi.