Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka is among the delegation that will oversee the General Election in Mozambique slated for October 15.
The former vice president will lead a team of five election observers from across the continent for this crucial test of democracy.
In a press statement on Monday, October 7, Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland stated that the General Election was crucial to further consolidate peace and democracy in the South African country.
The four other dignitaries picked in the team were, Zambia Solicitor General and former Attorney-General Musa Mwenye, Head of Africa Programme at Chatham House Alex Vines, South Africa Electoral Commissioner Nomsa Masuku, and Emma Lee Wilson, a Cambridge University lecturer.
“I am pleased that through this group of eminent persons, the Commonwealth will once again be present to demonstrate its support to the people of Mozambique,” Scotland stated.
She further mentioned that Kalonzo's team's recommendations would contribute to the strengthening of Mozambique’s democratic culture.
The observers will be in Mozambique from October 10 to 20, to consider the pre-election environment, election preparations, the vote on election day itself and the immediate post-election environment, including the results process.
The Secretary General further noted that she expected the team to function with impartiality and independence, as well as to conduct itself according to the standards set out in the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation, to which the Commonwealth was a signatory.
“The responsibility for conducting credible and peaceful elections is a collective one. It falls on all concerned, including the election management body, to political parties, civil society, community leaders, security agencies, the media and the electorate. Each stakeholder has a constitutional duty and responsibility to ensure that the process is credible and peaceful.” Scotland added.
Mozambique joined the Commonwealth in November 1995, as the first member country with no colonial links to Britain.
