admin
Prosper Ndlovu
IN two weeks time Sadc Heads of State and Government meet in Victoria Falls to deliberate on a range of issues affecting regional development and seek deepening of socio-economic progress and integration. While the block enjoys relative peace and political stability, the evolving terrorism threat sweeping across North Africa raises concerns that our noble Sadc leaders cannot ignore.
The spate of attacks and kidnappings by extremists’ groupings such as Boko Haram in Nigeria, Cameroon and Kenya are a cause for concern for the continent at large.
The situation in South Sudan, the Central Africa Republic, Renamo threat in Mozambique and eastern DRC remain a headache that requires a collective remedy.
As the regional leaders meet, these issues, coupled with the latest happenings in the Middle East and the killing of innocent civilians, ought to receive paramount attention as they not only retard the desired economic cohesion and development but taint the face of the global community and make it virtually inhabitable.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Constantine Chiwenga has gladly captured the desired alertness and vigilance, which the regional block needs to embrace as a panacea to safeguarding peace and stability and fostering perpetual development.
Noting the above stated happenings, our discerning General Chiwenga is on record calling for continental and sub-regional mobilisation of defence institutions to weed out terror groups.
To that end, war veterans’ leader Cde Jabulani Sibanda says the imminent 34th Sadc Summit should be a platform for thorough reasoning and cementing ties to safeguard the gains of liberation struggles.
“What’s happening on the northern side of the equator is a very serious situation. Since attainment of independence in the 1960s rebels groups have emerged and we have seen coups after coups in countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and others. The question we have is what’s the cause of such a behaviour? Secondly, who gives arms to these rebel groups? As our leaders meet they must examine these factors effectively and with thoroughness of thought,” said Cde Sibanda.
He urged Sadc vigilance and alertness against terror attacks, which he said were sponsored by the West and its allies to destabilise legitimate governments noting how liberation movements received support from the East during the struggle at a time when the West and its allies backed oppressive colonial regimes.
‘“Now the very same imperialists are supporting rebel groupings against legitimate governments. Our leaders must look at these things objectively and bury differences among themselves,” added Cde Sibanda.
“When they meet as Sadc those who want to toe the American line must learn from Mobutu Sese Seko who died a destitute despite being a friend of the West. They should know the West and America don’t have permanent friends but permanent interests.”
Cde Sibanda said Africa should unite and defend its values and heritage and avoid dancing to Western political machinations that have ruined many nations.
“You’ll realise that what we consider terrorism as Sadc, America views it as something else. Remember when rebels attacked Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi they were supported by Nato and viewed as “freedom fighters” by the West.
“The same word “terrorists” was used against us. The same happened in Iraq. Now Israel and Hamas are fighting in Gaza because America is involved. The United Nations is ineffective because the US uses its veto power and is abusing Israel. These are issues that people don’t know and don’t want to speak about openly.”
Last week Sadc executive secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax met Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba who chairs the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation for a briefing on the political situation in the region.
She underscored the significant efforts and milestones achieved during the tenure of Namibia as chair of the Sadc Organ that need to be safeguarded.
Among these achievements is the successful conclusion of the mediation mission in Madagascar as well as restoration of constitutional normalcy in that country, and the gradual stabilisation of the political situation in the eastern DRC.
They furthermore undertook to monitor and remain seized with the political situation in the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Namibia’s tenure as chair of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation comes to an end at the Heads of State and Government Summit.
General Chiwenga has said the country’s security agencies will vigilantly safeguard national interests in the face of threats of asymmetric terrorism on the African continent.
“As defence and security institutions, we will continue with our constitutional role of ensuring that we meet this challenge head on.
Global conflicts have taken a new dimension as terrorism and banditry seems to have taken a foothold in the conduct of modern warfare,” said Gen Chiwenga.
He said the creation of political uncertainty and the inducement of violence and unconstitutional change of governments by some Western countries were acts of terrorism facing Africa.
“The illegal regime change, which people talk about here (in Zimbabwe), is part of terrorism. This has visited Africa as we discuss.
Imagine what the situation would have been like if we had not mobilised our defence and security forces to thwart the regime change project?” added Gen Chiwenga.
He said there was an unwritten link between resource exploitation and terrorism as evidenced by conflicts in West, Central and East Africa.
Gen Chiwenga said economic destabilisation was a form of terrorism used by the West to instill fear and arm-twist political direction for economic exploitation, even through means such as financial constraints through illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West and its allies.
derick.khumalo