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From Tichaona Zindoga in GABORONE, Botswana—
PRESIDENT Mugabe will hand over the chairmanship of the 15-member Sadc community to his deputy, host President Seretse Khama Ian Khama, at the bloc’s 35th Summit of Heads of State and Government that opens at the Gaborone International Convention Centre here today. Zimbabwe’s chairmanship cemented the peace and security situation in the region which today is seized with only one trouble spot, Lesotho, whereas at the beginning of President Mugabe’s tenure there were three hotspots, including Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Zimbabwe will, however, remain a critical part of the leadership of the bloc for the coming year as a member of the Summit Troika, which brings together the incumbent chair, the deputy chair and immediate-past chairperson.
More Sadc Summit stories on Page 7 and Comment on Page 9
Sadc uses a Troika system that operates at the level of the Summit; the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation; the Council of Ministers and the Standing Committee of Senior Officials.
A meeting of any two of the Troikas is dubbed, a Double Troika.
The Summit and Organ Troikas were in session last night deliberating on the situation in Lesotho that has been plagued by instability in the wake of an attempted coup against the then prime minister Thomas Thabane.
South African President Jacob Zuma and chairman of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation is expected to present a report on the situation in the troubled tiny mountain kingdom for consideration by summit.
The Double Troika meeting on the region’s only hotspot brought forward the summit’s programme by a day, as leaders were initially expected to arrive yesterday.
Sadc leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of issues concerning the region, focusing on peace and security, regional integration and the industrialisation agenda.
The main highlight of proceedings will be the handing over of the chairman’s badge by President Mugabe to the new chair President Ian Khama.
The opening ceremony will see addresses by newly-elected leaders, Dr Hage Geingob of Namibia, Mr Pakalitha Mosisili (Prime Minister, Lesotho), Mr Edgar Lungu, (Zambia) and Mr Filepe Jacinto Nyusi (Mozambique).
President Khama, after receiving the chairman’s badge from the incumbent, is expected to deliver an acceptance speech, marking the end of the official opening ceremony.
First spouses programme, a group photo moment for Heads of State and Government and invited dignitaries will be held while President Khama will throw a state banquet for his regional peers in the evening.
Tuesday will see the closing ceremony of the summit and signing of legal instruments.
President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania is expected to bid Summit goodbye as he is due to leave office at the end of his final term in October.
President Mugabe touched down at the Seretse Khama International Airport at 1645 on Saturday and was received by the Botswana Minister of Health Mrs Dorcas Mokgatho.
Zimbabwean officials who welcomed President Mugabe were Ambassador to Botswana Tommy Mandigora, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa, Industry Minister Mike Bimha and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Mr George Charamba.
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