By Farai D Hove| The same person who embarrassed herself endorsing the recent rigged Mozambican elections, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has been appointed to lead a SADC Observer Mission (SEOM) to Namibia, for presidential and legislative elections scheduled for November 27.

The Mozambican polls were marred by clear vote rigging filmed on camera with the incumbent, hiring buses to carry non Mozambican nationals to vote at polling stations outside the country, in places as far as Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

Oppah was appointed by her boss, Emmerson Mnangagwa. The state media reported saying her appointment is in line with Mnangagwa’s mandate as the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation chairperson.

The revelations are contained in a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade statement which the spokesperson, Mr Sheperd Gwenzi said Munchinguri will be accompanied by an Alternate Head of Mission Patrick Chinamasa and other Government officials.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri is expected to launch SEOM in Namibia tomorrow before releasing a preliminary election statement on Friday.

“Zimbabwe as chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation will lead the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to the Republic of Namibia’s presidential and National Assembly elections to be held on 27 November 29,” said Mr Gwenzi.

“As mandated by His Excellency, President Emmerson D. Mnangagwa, the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Hon Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs will lead the SEOM to Namibia covering the period 13 November 2019 to 4 December 2019,”

He added that the team would ensure that the elections are held in a transparent manner.

“The core mandate of the SEOM shall be to determine the adherence of the Republic of Namibia to democratic values and principles envisioned in the SADC Treaty, the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; the provision of the Revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections,” he said “Elections will be observed based on three-phases, the pre-election phase, the election phase and the post-election phase.”