Y.E Executive Secretary of the ICGLR, Dr Mubita Luwabelwa;
Honourable Members of Parliament led by Hon Mugambi Rindikiri
Distinguished Observers;
Members of the Secretariat;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Let me begin by saying that I am profoundly humbled to address you at the opening of this Orientation and Training Programme for Short-Term Observers of the ICGLR Election Observation Mission to the 2026 General Elections in the Republic of Zambia. On behalf of the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, I extend warm greetings to you all, and my sincere appreciation to the ICGLR Executive Secretariat and the Levy Mwanawasa Regional Centre for convening this important exercise.
Distinguished Observers, over the next two days you will be equipped with the tools of your assignment: the electoral context of Zambia, the standards against which you will observe, the Code of Conduct that will govern your work, and the procedures for reporting what you see. I urge you to absorb this training with diligence, because upon deployment you will no longer represent yourselves, your countries or your institutions — you will represent the Great Lakes Region as a whole, in its Executive and Parliamentary dimensions together.
This Mission demonstrates the strong and growing collaboration between the ICGLR and the FP-ICGLR. While the ICGLR provides the broader intergovernmental framework for promoting peace, security, democracy and development in our region, the FP-ICGLR brings the essential parliamentary dimension to this collective effort. Together, our sister institutions are better positioned to support credible elections, democratic governance and respect for the will of the people.
Our joint participation also reflects a shared understanding that peaceful and transparent elections are fundamental to regional stability. Elections should strengthen public confidence, reinforce democratic institutions and contribute to peace—not become a source of division or conflict.
I wish to thank the ICGLR Executive Secretariat, under the leadership of Dr Mubita Luwabelwa, for its close cooperation with the FP-ICGLR General Secretariat in preparing and conducting this Mission. This partnership illustrates what our two sister institutions can achieve when we combine our respective mandates and work towards a common regional objective.
I wish you fruitful training and a successful deployment. May your work contribute to a peaceful, credible and transparent electoral process in Zambia.
I thank you for your kind attention.
Asante Sana!
