Regional leaders arrive for Sadc summit

Harare Bureau
The Sadc Heads of State and Government Extra-Ordinary Summit on industrialisation begins in Harare today, with some regional leaders having arrived in the capital yesterday, while more are expected early this morning.Among those who arrived yesterday are Presidents Edgar Lungu (Zambia), Hage Geingob (Namibia), Vice President Mohamed Gharib Bilal (Tanzania) and Prime Minister Pakalitha Bethue I Mosisili (Lesotho).

Those expected to arrive early today are Presidents Jacob Zuma (South Africa), Filipe Nyusi (Mozambique), Ian Khama Seretse Khama (Botswana), President Peter Mutharika (Malawi) and King Mswati (Swaziland).

Other regional countries such as Angola, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Democratic Republic of Congo are represented at ministerial level at the summit.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi told journalists that the summit was historic in that it fulfills President Robert Mugabe’s vision of seeing Southern Africa empowered through beneficiation of its resources.

“Never before has any theme of the Sadc Summit outlived that individual summit,” he said. “But in this particular case, the roadmap and the strategy which has been prepared spans over a period of 48 years.

“Therefore, the outcome of this Extra-Ordinary Summit will continue to be a point of reference for our region for the next half century and this is historic and the whole region is appreciative of the contribution that His Excellency the President (President Mugabe) has made on the development agenda of the entire region.

“As you know, the question of value-addition and beneficiation has been an issue which His Excellency the President has always been advocating over many years and now we see the fruition of his persistence and his commitment to this particular issue and the summit tomorrow will establish a legacy of His Excellency the President’s vision and leadership for the next half century.” Minister Mumbengegwi said adequate preparations had been put in place for the summit which Zimbabwe expects to be a resounding success.

The Council of Ministers, Minister Mumbengegwi said, had adopted the draft industrialisation strategy which they would recommend to the summit today.

The Extra-Ordinary Summit was called for by the Heads of State and Government at their Ordinary Summit held in Victoria Falls last year to craft a strategy on industrialising the region through value addition and beneficiation of the abundant natural resources in Sadc.

If adopted, the draft industrialisation strategy will be implemented in phases from this year until 2063 and will run concurrently with the Africa Union’s Agenda 63 that is based on rekindling Pan-Africanism, a sense of unity, self-reliance, integration and solidarity.

The Extra-Ordinary Summit is also expected to discuss the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan.

President Mugabe, who is the Sadc chair, is expected to officially open the summit this morning.

President Lungu yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Mugabe.

The two leaders held closed door talks for more than two hours at State House where they discussed several issues, including the forthcoming Zimbabwe International Trade Fair which the Zambia leader is expected to officially open tomorrow.

President Lungu, who was accompanied by his wife Esther, was welcomed by President Mugabe and First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe at State House before they withdrew for a one-on-one discussion.

Both leaders emerged from the marathon meeting in a jovial mood, with President Mugabe cracking jokes when several journalists, both foreign and local, swarmed them.

Asked what they had discussed, President Mugabe said jokingly: “We were just relaxing, but the President (Lungu) will answer whatever questions you have that you would want to get answered. But if you don’t have, I’ll ask you questions myself,” President Mugabe said drawing laughter from those in attendance.

After a pause, President Lungu quipped: “They don’t have (questions).”

Pressed further President Lungu said: “There are bigger things to be discussed tomorrow. I’m here for the second and third time now. I’m here for the first time officially as Head of State, but I think I’m getting used to the hospitality of President Mugabe. Like I say, he is an elder statesman in the region and he knows all the corners and I’m learning from him.”

President Lungu was in Harare in February when he held bilateral talks with President Mugabe after he won the presidential by-election aimed at replacing Michael Sata who died last year.

Before holding talks with President Lungu, President Mugabe, who is also the Sadc chairperson, met the regional bloc’s Executive Secretary Stergomena Lawrence Tax.

Although Tax did not speak to the press on the meeting, sources said she briefed President Mugabe on the preparations for the Sadc Extraordinary summit.

Meanwhile, a handful of rowdy youths linked to the MDC-T yesterday attempted to disrupt the Summit by holding an unsanctioned demonstration at Meikles Hotel. The placard wielding gang quickly dispersed the moment police moved in.

Some of the placards were denouncing Zanu-PF and President Mugabe, while heaping praises on MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Sadc has always snubbed the MDC-T in its quest to have Zimbabwe on its agenda by falsely claiming that the country was on the verge of collapse.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said no arrests were made.

“They ran away the moment they saw the police,” she said.