President Peter Mutharika has called on political leaders in Seychelles and their supporters to exercise restraint, remain calm, and respect the will of the people as the country conducts its second round of elections to elect a president starting today.

In his statement, as the Chairperson of the SADC organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation, President Mutharika has expressed his wish to see that the peace witnessed and experienced during the First Round of elections will continue to prevail throughout the polling days and the post-election phase. 

He says SADC has received an invitation from the Seychelles Government to deploy its Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to observe the country’s pre-election phase, polling day, and the post-election processes in line with the relevant provisions of the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

The call comes after Malawi held its general election on 16 September, where Mutharika was elected as the 7th president.

Publicity Secretary for the Political Science Association, Mavuto Bamusi, has commended Mutharika for the call, saying Malawi has become a model of peaceful and democratic elections, following the 16 September General Elections.

"Malawi is asserting itself as a critical player in international relations, so this is meant to strengthen Malawi's relationship with other countries," says Bamusi.

Malawi assumed the Chairmanship of the SADC organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation, late last year.