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Lloyd Gumbo in VICTORIA FALLS
Sadc Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax says Zimbabwe is ready to host the 34th Sadc Summit of Heads of State and Government with all infrastructure already in place.
The Summit opens next Sunday when President Mugabe takes over as Sadc Chair.
Dr Tax made the remarks yesterday after touring facilities at Elephant Hills Hotel, the Summit venue.
She said the proposed review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Plan; peace and security as well as regional economic development are among the issues up for discussion at the Summit.
“Everything is in place in terms of the structures where the meetings are going to take place. We thank the host Government very much for their support and from the secretariat point of view, in terms of technical preparation, we are also set. So my impression is that we are ready.
“. . . I cannot pre-empt the Summit, but what I can say is that there are a number of issues which we will be submitting to the Summit. And this year, we have been focusing on the review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Plan. So, that is one of the things we are expecting to present to the Summit.”
Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Ambassador Joey Bimha said a number of senior Sadc officials have already arrived for a two-day meeting which begins today.
“That meeting will start the actual agenda of the Summit as it will clear the agenda for the Council of Ministers,” said Ambassador Bimha.
“Senior officials will recommend their deliberations on the agenda to the Council (of Ministers) who will also discuss the agenda. They will then recommend the agenda to the Summit.”
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter