Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE yesterday attended a virtual Sadc Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government chaired by SA President and Sadc chairperson Cyril Ramaphosa to deliberate on the political and security situation in Madagascar, guided by the report of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
President Mnangagwa was represented by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Acting Minister Ambassador Frederick Shava, with Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe attending the meeting.
In an interview after the summit, Ambassador Shava said the regional bloc had agreed that all relevant actors, including the African Union, be part of finding a lasting solution for Madagascar.
“The major issues raised in the report include the need to involve everybody in looking for solutions, the need to involve the Sadc itself and the AU in trying to come up with a solution in the Madagascar situation,” he said.
Sadc set up a high-level fact-finding and peace-building Panel of Elders led by former Malawian President Joyce Banda, who presented a report at yesterday’s summit.
In his opening remarks, President Ramaphosa reaffirmed that Sadc would remain actively engaged in Madagascar until constitutional order was restored.
“We further committed that the reform process must be inclusive, time-bound, and nationally owned. The reform process must create space for all stakeholders, including political exiles, to participate meaningfully in shaping Madagascar’s future,” he said.
Yesterday’s Extraordinary Summit was also convened as the Ebola virus has resurfaced in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
As such, Sadc chairman President Ramaphosa said the regional bloc would do all it can to support the affected countries.
“We wish them all, those who are affected and ill, a speedy recovery. And we pay our condolences to those who have died as a result of Ebola, and we give our comfort to their families, as well as wish the various countries in our region that are affected by this, and wish them strength and resoluteness so that they know that they have our full support and that we will do everything we can to give them the support that they need,” he said.
On Sunday, DRC reported that Ebola cases had reached 1 274, including 360 deaths.
On the ensuing war in the Middle East, President Ramaphosa said SADC continues to call for peace as economies globally are reeling from its effects.
“We also meet at a time when the world is engulfed in a war, particularly in the Middle East, where lives are being lost unnecessarily, and also affecting the various economies of the world, where we see rises in prices, particularly of fuel, where the fuel that is needed by various countries in the world is not able to reach the destinations at an affordable price.
“We also meet at a time when the conflict in the Sudan continues to displace a number of people in the Sudan and leads to the deaths of so many other people. So, we pledge our solidarity with all those who are involved and who are suffering as a result of that conflict in that country, and we continue to call for peace, and we continue to call for all those who are involved in that conflict to come around the table and negotiate a settlement,” he said.
SADC Executive Secretary Mr Elias Magosi urged member States to remain vigilant against emerging threats that endanger SADC’s regional integration and development agenda.
“Peace and stability have long been the hallmark of the SADC region and a marvel for many regions elsewhere, where these attributes are a rare commodity.
“I believe it is our solemn duty as a collective to safeguard them with relentless commitment and undying unity of purpose.
“We are confident, Your Excellencies, that with your collective wisdom and leadership, lasting solutions will be found to restore memory, to tackle the root causes of the isolated instability and to usher in a new dawn for our region, guided by unity as our campus and peace as our destination,” he said.
Sadc communiqué on Madagascar
In a communiqué following the meeting’s conclusion, Mr Magosi said the summit urged the Government of Madagascar, led by Colonel Michael Randrianirina, President of the Refoundation, to remain committed to reforms that are clear, time-bound, transparent, inclusive of all Malagasy stakeholders, and widely communicated in national languages to ensure broad participation and that the outcomes are accepted by the people.
The Summit further stressed the importance of protecting constitutional rule and democratic governance, emphasising that reforms must ultimately restore constitutional order and lead to a democratically elected government, without delaying the will of the Malagasy people.
“Summit emphasised the need for inclusive dialogue, reconciliation, and national consultations during the transition and called on the Government, the Council of Christian Churches, and all stakeholders to act fairly, respect the constitution, and build consensus.
“Summit called for the release of political prisoners, an end to arbitrary arrests of opposition leaders and Generation Z members, and the return of political exiles to the country,” reads the communiqué.
The summit expanded the mandate of the Panel of Elders to include reconciliation, electoral reform and preparations for the referendum and general elections, and approved the setting up of a SADC Liaison Office in Antananarivo, to coordinate support.
The summit then expressed concern about the Ebola outbreak in Eastern DRC, reaffirmed solidarity with the Congolese people, and warned that the worsening security threatens peace and regional integration.
“It stressed the urgency of coordinated responses to safeguard lives,” said SADC.
“Summit reaffirmed its commitment to peace, security, democracy, good governance, and sustainable development, stressing that regional solidarity and cooperation are essential for building a united and prosperous SADC Community.”
The summit also thanked Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of Malawi and Chairperson of the Organ, for his leadership in promoting peace and security in Madagascar and the SADC region.
President Ramaphosa was praised for his leadership and key role in hosting a successful summit and driving the regional agenda forward.
