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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Government has appointed a National Steering Committee to lead preparations for the 34th Sadc Summit that Zimbabwe will host in Victoria Falls between August 17 and 18.As summit host President Mugabe, who is Sadc deputy chair, will takeover chairmanship of the bloc from Dr Peter Mutharika of Malawi.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Joey Bimha yesterday confirmed the setting up of the committee.
“The whole event is being organised by a National Steering Committee chaired by Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Ray Ndhlukula,” Ambassador Bimha said.
He said that several sub-committees had also been set up to look at various issues to ensure a successful event.
The sub-committees include that of budget and finance, conference facilities and offices, protocol, transport and accommodation and catering.
The theme for this year’s summit will be “Sadc Strategy for Economic Transformation: Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources for Sustainable Economic and Social Development”.
President Mugabe was elected Sadc deputy chair at the bloc’s summit in Lilongwe, Malawi, last year following his resounding victory in the harmonised elections held on July 31.
His assumption of the deputy chairmanship was a diplomatic victory and an endorsement of his and Zanu-PF’s victory in the harmonised elections that Western powers, who were barred from observing, refused to accept as they preferred the MDC-T, that they sponsor, to prevail.
President Mugabe’s chairmanship is expected to see the region consolidate its pan-African agenda given President Mugabe’s uncompromising views on Africa’s Renaissance.
President Mugabe was also elected African Union’s First Deputy Chair, positioning him to take over the chairmanship of the continental bloc in January next year.
Online Reporter