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Prosper Ndlovu in Victoria Falls
BOTSWANA President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama was yesterday elected new deputy SADC chair while South African president Jacob Zuma landed the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation chair. Zuma takes over from outgoing Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who is set to step down in November after serving two terms in office when his country goes for elections.
Botswana will host next year’s summit. The two-day 34th SADC Heads of States and Government, which ended here yesterday also elected Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Matabane as deputy to Zuma in the Organ on Politics.
In his report, President Pohamba said the region remains peaceful and stable and noted progress in peace missions to eastern DRC.
Regarding the issue, the summit endorsed the last joint SADC ministerial meeting that the voluntary surrender and disarmament of rebels shall be done within a six month time frame.
The region re-affirmed commitment to support the new kid on the block,
Madagascar, in its development process and urged the Lesotho coalition government leaders to continue to provide leadership in its effort to find a lasting political solution to the current impasse.
SADC executive secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax read the communique at the close of the summit in which member states also re-appointed Emilie Ayaza Mushobekwa as the deputy executive secretary — finance and administration, and noted the appointment of Dr Thembinkosi Mhlongo as deputy executive secretary in charge of regional integration.
The 15-member block also underscored the need to appropriately honour founding nationalist fathers who played an outstanding role in the liberation of Africa, at both regional and continental levels.
The summit also reviewed the regional food and nutrition security and noted increases in food production during the 2013-2014 farming season.
However, humanitarian assistance and malnutrition were noted as a challenge and member states endorsed a regional food and nutrition security strategy for 2015 to 2025 to ensure improved food availability, accessibility and utilisation.
Progress on the status of women’s representation was also noted and member states were urged to enact enabling legislation, policies and strategies to sustain achievements recorded so far.
On the health front, HIV and Aids, TB and malaria were reported to be on decline although concern was raised on the latest threat of Ebola.
Member states were urged to continue putting in place measures to prevent Ebola outbreak and contain it in case of an outbreak in the SADC region.
The summit also signed a declaration on small islands development states in support of sustainable aquatic and oceanic development.
Member states were also urged to support the legitimate claim of the Republic of Mauritius for the restoration of its sovereignty over Chagos Archipelego.
This year’s summit ran under the theme: “SADC Strategy for Economic Transformation: Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources for Sustainable Economic and Social Development Through Value Addition and Beneficiation”.
Online Reporter