which outlines the principles of universal adult suffrage, and defines the electoral systems and processes; as well as by the country's Electoral Laws. Informed by these inter-related regional and national frameworks, the SADC Electoral Observation Mission will assess the conduct of the elections against a set of central principles stipulated in the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections such as: 1. Full participation of the citizens in the political process; 2. Freedom of association; 3. Political tolerance; 4. Equal opportunity for all political parties to access the state media; 5. Equal opportunity to exercise the right to vote and be voted for; 6. Independence of the Judiciary and impartiality of the electoral institutions; 7. Civic and Voter education; 8. Acceptance and respect of the election results by political parties as proclaimed to have been free and fair by the competent Electoral Commission in accordance with the law of the land; and 9. Challenge of the election results as provided for in the law. Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, 10