INTRODUCTION
2.1 In accordance with the established practice of observing National Elections in Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States, His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia and the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, constituted the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to observe the elections following an invitation extended by the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe. This practice conforms with the SADC Treaty, the SADC Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation and the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021). In this regard , President Hakainde Hichilema mandated Mr. Elias Magosi, the Executive Secretary of SADC to facilitate the deployment of the SEOM to the Republic of Zimbabwe.

2.2 the Chairperson appointed His Excellency Dr Nevers Mumba, former Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, to lead the SEOM to the Republic of Zimbabwe. Ambassador Humphrey Chi banda assisted the former Vice President of the Republic of Zambia from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zambia.