election and post-election phases of the electoral process using the Long Term Election Observation methodology. This new approach includes the deployment of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) Goodwill and pre-election assessment Missions; followed by the Long Term Observers (LTOs ); and the Short Term Observers (STOs). Distinguished guests Ladies and Gentlemen, To this end, the application of the Long Term Observation methodology began with the deployment of the SEAC Mission to Zimbabwe on 18 to 22 March 2018. This was then followed by the deployment of the Long Term Observation (LTO) Mission on 7 July 2018. Finally, the Short Term Observation Mission arrived on 18 July 2018. These various structures, together, constitute the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM). The SEOM consists, in total, of 63 observers from 11 SADC Member States namely Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. The Mission is supported by 16 experts and administrative staff from the SADC Secretariat. Since their deployment, the Long Term Observers have been engaging with stake holders and observing on-going electoral activities in all 10 7