South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Mait Nkoana-Mashabane arrived in Lesotho on Tuesday for the launch of the Election Observer Mission (EOM) of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Nkoana-Mashabane came as a representative of President Jacob Zuma, Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, spokesperson Clayson Monyela said.

The SADC is responsible for the maintenance of peace and stability in the region. The SADC's EOM plays an important role in observing adherence to democratic principles and practices in the conduct of elections in the region.

Following the launch of the EOM, scheduled for Wednesday, it is expected that SADC election observers will be deployed to all the districts in Lesotho in preparation for the elections on February 28.

Following the elections, the EOM will, as practice, issue a preliminary statement on the outcome of the elections.

As Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation since August 2014, South Africa has led successful SADC EOMs to Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Mauritius and Zambia. The missions found that elections in these countries were peaceful, transparent, credible, and free and fair, thus reflecting the will of the people, Monyela said.

Following the launch of the EOM in Lesotho, the Troika of Heads of State and Government of the SADC will meet later this week to give impetus to efforts to create peace and stability in Lesotho.

Lesotho has been in political turmoil since June last year when Prime Minister Thomas Thabane suspended Parliament to avoid a vote of no confidence that was being pushed by his coalition government partners.

In late August last year, a coup to oust Thabane was thwarted. Mediated by the SADC, all conflicting parties have agreed to hold early elections. Endi

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