The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has commended the Democratic Republic of Congo for maintaining peace during the December 30 presidential election, but is calling on the electoral authority to release the results promptly.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Zambian counterpart Edgar Lungu met in Durban on Wednesday to discuss the situation in the DR Congo, as worries mount over a possibility of violence.
President Lungu made the trip to South Africa in his capacity as the SADC Chairperson for the Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security Cooperation.
“Presidents Ramaphosa and Lungu reiterated comments made by SEOM (SADC Electoral Observer Mission) that considering the number of voters, the vast area had to be covered and the new technology implemented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), the elections were generally peaceful and the right to vote was protected,” a statement released after the meeting read in part.
“The two Presidents commended MONUSCO and the DRC security forces for supporting CENI in ensuring that the people vote in a peaceful and secure environment.
“Presidents Ramaphosa and Lungu have called on CENI to speedily finalise the vote tabulation and release the election results in order to maintain the credibility of elections.”
According to the statement, the two leaders noted that a continued delay in the release of the result would lead to suspicions which would ultimately “compromise peace and stability of the country.”
Provisional results are expected to start streaming in anytime from Wednesday, according to a top official from CENI.
If the election process moves smoothly, the DR Congo will witness its first ever peaceful transfer of power since independence in 1960.
