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SADC to decide on Zim soon - Levy

SADC to decide on Zim soon - Levy
By George Chellah
Wednesday March 21, 2007 [02:00]

PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa yesterday said the Southern African Development Community (SADC) would soon take a stand on the situation in Zimbabwe. Addressing journalists at Lusaka International airport before departure for Windhoek, Namibia, President Mwanawasa - who was asked about the situation in Zimbabwe - confirmed that he had received a report over the situation.

"For the time being I am not commenting. Yes, I have received a report but am not commenting. We are talking as SADC countries," President Mwanawasa said. "There will be a meeting of SADC ministers of foreign affairs in the few days time and we will be able to communicate our stand."The African Union (AU) on Saturday called on Zimbabwe to respect the human rights and democratic principles. AU commission chief Alpha Oumar Konare recalled the need for the scrupulous respect for human rights and democratic principles in Zimbabwe.

And Dr Kenneth Kaunda has urged African leaders to facilitate a consultative meeting for the warring parties in Zimbabwe to avert any further injury to human life. Pressure has mounted on Zimbabwean President Mugabe after police last Sunday crushed an opposition MDC rally in Harare. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and other opposition leaders were battered while in custody. The United States has said it holds President Mugabe "personally responsible" for the recent attacks on opposition figures.

Professor Arthur Mutambara, the leader of one of the factions of the MDC, was re-arrested on Saturday. Senior MDC officials Grace Kwinje and Sekai Holland tried to go to South Africa to receive specialist treatment on Saturday evening but were blocked. Member of Parliament Nelson Chamisa said he was severely beaten by unknown men at Harare International Airport on Sunday as he tried to leave, while scores were beaten last week. Meanwhile, when asked when he would extend the fight against corruption to other government ministries, President Mwanawasa answered: "I have already started. I will not announce until when they are ready."

On his trip to Namibia, President Mwanawasa praised the relationship between Zambia and Namibia. "I thought you are not going to ask that. Namibia is not only a neighbour but it's a friendly country," President Mwanawasa said. "Ever since I came to office as President, I have enjoyed immeasurable support and friendship with the heads of state of that country. It started with Sam Nujoma now it's Pohamba and our people also have a lot of things in common." He said he was pleased to be invited as the guest of honour for Namibia's 17th Independence anniversary. "As a compliment to that, I will extend the visit by three days into a state visit. There are things we want to discuss and see. We are both copper producing countries. They produce oil and we are collaborating in agriculture," President Mwanawasa said. "You know there is a joint agriculture venture, which we are studying and which we hope to implement some time this year at Sesheke."

And a number of former ministers and deputy ministers, most of whom lost the last parliamentary elections turned up to send-off President Mwanawasa for Namibia yesterday. Notables among the former ministers and deputies were Judith Kapijimpanga, Andrew Mulenga, Kennedy Shepande, Sipula Kabanje and Chilufya Kazenene.

Labels: MWANAWASA, SADC, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:32 AM