Adopted on 20 July 2015, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa 13 ANNEXURES: 13.1 ANNEXURE I: GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ELECTORAL OBSERVATION AND REPORTING 13.1.1 RATIONALE FOR ELECTORAL OBSERVATION The SEOM, in its consultations with electoral stakeholders, shall seek to inquire into the broad key elements of the Electoral Cycle to ascertain whether the electoral process is being conducted in conformity with the “SADC Principles for Conducting Democratic Elections” and “Responsibilities of Member States Holding Elections”, contained in sections four (4) and five (5), respectively; 13.1.2 ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER IN ELECTORAL OBSERVATION AND ASSESSMENT: The SEOM shall employ, in its best practice, Long-Term Observation (LTO) and analyses that address all aspects of the Election Cycle as well as assess the broader political context that affects the character and quality of elections. Where the SEOM observation cannot physically examine every element of a given electoral process, they shall consider and take into account the significance of Pre-election and Post-election factors. Such considerations shall be informed, but not limited to, reports of Pre-election Goodwill Missions of the SEAC as well as the related reports on the political environment. To this end, the SEOM shall be committed to: 13.1.2.1 Employing systematic electoral observation methodologies and techniques practicable in light of objective principles and national conditions, as well as the elements of the election process being assessed; 13.1.2.2 Conducting impartial, fact-based analysis and develop findings and recommendations based on national legal requirements and applicable international and regional obligations, principles and commitments; 13.1.2.3 Being transparent concerning the benchmarks they use in their observation activities. 13.2 PRE-ELECTION PERIOD: Accreditation is essential for the fulfilment of the SEOM’s and the SEAC’s mandate; therefore, the EMBs, as one of the principal institutions responsible for accrediting domestic and foreign observers as well as party agents, shall ensure that accreditation is done in a timely manner, upon arrival, to enable individual observers’ access to all parts of the country. 13.2.1 In this regard, SEOMs should ascertain whether the requirement for timely accreditation of party agents and observers, upon arrival, enabling individual observers’ access to all geographical areas of the country holding elections is obliged to by the EMB. - 18 -