Ireland South MEP Michael McNamara has been appointed Chief Observer of the European Union’s Election Observation Mission to Zambia.
The Independent MEP will lead the mission monitoring Zambia’s election on the 13th of August, following an invitation from the Zambian Government. He travelled to Lusaka for a formal launch starting with a programme of meetings.
MEP McNamara said in a press release that Zambia has a strong democratic tradition, with peaceful elections and transfers of power since multi-party democracy was restored in 1991.
He says it is an honour to witness what he described as an important democratic moment, adding that the EU mission will remain independent and impartial throughout the election process.
Election experts from the mission’s team have been operating in Zambia since late June, as 32 long-term observers are now deployed across all ten provinces monitoring the campaign and the electoral process.
MEP McNamara set out his hopes for the election and said:
“Let the campaign be vigorous, but not violent. Let the process be inclusive, with women, young people, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups playing their full part. Let every stage be transparent, because trust in the results is created through transparency. And if disputes arise, let them be resolved through dialogue and in accordance with the rule of law.”
