On behalf of the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC countries (ECF-SADC) observation mission to the 16 September 2025 Malawi General Elections, I wish to convey our sincere gratitude for the warm welcome, hospitality and facilities at our disposal. Indeed, we are feeling the “warm heart of Africa”. My team and I arrived in Lilongwe on the 9th September 2025 following invitation by the Electoral Commission of Malawi (MEC) to observe the General Elections of the Republic of Malawi scheduled for 16th September 2025 .
The mission is comprised of a twenty-three short-term observers comprising delegates from nine Election Management Bodies of the SADC region namely the CNE – Angola, IEC- Botswana, EBC-Eswatini, CENI-DRC, IEC -Lesotho, EC-Namibia, IEC- South Africa, EC-Zambia and ZEC-Zimbabwe to be deployed to various regions of the country . The Mission will be in the country until 19 September 2025 with a Mission base at the Lifestyle Boutique Hotel, LILONGWE.
The ECF-SADC election observer mission is aimed at assessing the preparedness of the Malawi Electoral Commission to conduct elections; observe the pre-election environment; observe the conduct of the election itself; and evaluate the electoral process and make recommendations that will contribute to the improvement of electoral processes in Malawi . The mission is guided by the principles of impartiality, neutrality, transparency, objectivity, professionalism, and respect for the sovereignty of Malawi as well as Regional and International benchmark legal framework governing elections.
The mission will further engage with stakeholders, including the Malawi Electoral Commission, political parties, civil society organisations, academia, faith-based organisations, media and, most importantly, the citizens of Malawi. This inclusive approach will ensure that the Mission’s assessments are comprehensive and reflective of the experiences of all Malawians.
For further inquiries about the ECF-SADC mission, please contact the Mission’s Communications and Media personnel Mr Mulauli Siluka at WhatsApp mobile +26481 4145205 call mobile +265 884920654 or desiluka@gmail.com or Ms Lone Phineas mobile +265 884920656 email: lphineas@ecfsadc.org
