JOHANNESBURG, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Southern African Development Community (SADC) launched its electoral observation mission to South Africa in Johannesburg on Wednesday, urging all stakeholders to ensure that the upcoming general elections are conducted in a credible, free and fair manner.

Enock Kavindele, head of the SADC observation mission, said that his team comprises 81 people from 11 SADC countries. All mission officials have been trained and are being deployed in all provinces of South Africa.

"South Africa is well-known for a culture of peaceful elections at the national level. Our mission expects this culture to persist during and beyond this electoral cycle. We will observe the conduct of voting, including assistance to voters, counting, tabulation and announcement of results, as well as the transparency of procedures and adequacy of safeguards against inaccuracies," said Kavindele, who is also a former vice president of Zambia.

Kavindele said that they observe elections in SADC member states to ensure that regional countries adhere to the relevant provisions of the SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections.

The mission will observe whether measures are in place to prevent corruption, bribery, favoritism, political violence, intimidation and intolerance. Kavindele welcomed the efforts made by the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa to tackle misinformation.

"We must all be alert to attempts by some people, including those primarily from beyond Africa, to influence our elections in line with their own interests or geopolitical games," he said. "I urge all political contestants and their supporters to make positive use of information technology for innovative campaign purposes, particularly to reach out to the youth, our future leaders, who, for a variety of reasons, often fail to exercise their right to vote."

South Africa will hold national and local government elections on May 29. Enditem

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