By WEBSTER ZAMBARA –
This year, the Southern African Development Community celebrates 10 years since the creation and adoption of 15 guidelines and principles governing the conduct of elections.
In 1996, as part of their commitment to regional political integration, SADC member states established the organ on politics, defence, security and co-operation (OPDSC), the protocol of which was adopted in Blantyre, Malawi, in 2001. The aim was to promote the development of democratic institutions and practices as well as the observance of human rights as set out in the charters and conventions of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) and the United Nations. In 2004, the OPDSC adopted the SADC Indicative Plan for the Organ as a planning and implementation strategy towards regional political integration.
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