The SADC Secretariat has distanced itself from media reports that SADC election observers will visit the Kingdom of Eswatini on the 14th of this month. 

The reports were made through the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries, a non-governmental organisation that supports the electoral monitoring process.

However, it is not a structure of SADC and has no mandate to deploy the regional body's Election Observation Mission.

The Secretariat says, contrary to media reports, the SADC Election Observation Mission (SEOM) is deployed on a mandate cleared by the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Defence and Security Cooperation.

The deployment is further informed by a prior pre-election assessment mission conducted by the SADC Electoral Advisory Council.

The SADC Secretariat says all stakeholders in the Kingdom of Eswatini will be informed formally when SADC deploys the relevant structures with a mandate to work with member states on electoral matters.

The summit of the SADC Organ on Defence and Security Cooperation is expected to convene this month to discuss regional security issues.