Online Reporter
Nduduzo Tshuma in Johannesburg, South Africa
SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday evening hosted fellow heads of liberation movements at a working dinner at the Mahlamba Ndlopfu State House in Pretoria ahead of Sunday’s crucial deliberations at the Liberation Movements Summit.
The leaders are set to discuss strategies to confront the growing threats to the continued relevance and survival of their parties amid shifting global and regional dynamics.
In attendance at the dinner were Presidents Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia and the Minister of the Saharawi Republic, Mr Mohamed Yeslem Beisat. They were accompanied by senior government officials.
The working dinner focused on issues of regional cooperation, trade and the strengthening of bilateral relations. Also present were former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano and former Tanzanian Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda.
The three-day summit, which began on Friday and enters its final and most critical phase on Sunday, brings together six Southern African liberation movements: the ANC (South Africa – also chair and host), ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe), MPLA (Angola), SWAPO (Namibia), FRELIMO (Mozambique), and CCM (Tanzania).
They have been joined by allied parties from the region and beyond, as well as key institutions such as the Museum of African Liberation.
Running under the theme “Defending the Liberation Gains, Advancing Integrated Socio-Economic Development, Strengthening Solidarity for a Better Africa,” the summit provides a platform for leaders of the liberation movements to reassert their collective vision and formulate strategies to navigate an increasingly challenging political landscape.
In a departure from previous summits, typically attended by secretary-generals, the presence of party leaders at this year’s gathering adds significant weight to the summit and its anticipated resolutions.
Ends
