Maravi

SADC Presidents to meet over Zimbabwe

SADC Presidents to meet over Zimbabwe
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wednesday April 09, 2008 [15:59]

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has called for an extra-ordinary summit of Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) heads of state this Saturday to discuss and find solutions to the high tension in Zimbabwe following presidential elections. Addressing a press briefing at State House shortly after a lengthy Cabinet meeting, President Mwanawasa, who is also SADC chairperson, called for calmness and patience among Zimbabweans as they await results of the presidential election results.

“The people of Zimbabwe held presidential and general elections on March 29, 2008 which were pronounced by the international observers as being generally free and fair.

The results of the presidential elections have, however, been inconclusive as no outright winner among the presidential contestants appears to have emerged,” President Mwanawasa said. “I know that there is high tension in the country but the most that we in the region can appeal for is peace and patience in Zimbabwe.”

President Mwanawasa commended Zimbabweans for the calm and peaceful manner in which the elections were conducted.
“Similarly, I appeal to them to maintain the same spirit of calmness which they exhibited during the elections as they await the results of the presidential elections,” he said.

President Mwanawasa said he had initially wanted to send former heads of state to Zimbabwe but he felt the situation was serious and decided that the matter should be dealt with at presidential level.

“Given the developments immediately following the elections, I have decided as chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to call an extraordinary summit on Saturday 12th April, 2008 here in Lusaka to discuss the ways and means of assisting the people of Zimbabwe with the current impasse as well as adopt a co-ordinated approach to the situation in the country,” President Mwanawasa said.

“I must indicate that as late as yesterday, I had felt that I should send a team of former heads of state to go and assess the situation, discuss with political parties then advise and report to me as chair of SADC but because of the deepening problems in the country, I felt that this matter should be dealt with at presidential level.”

He advised the international community to avoid doing anything that might worsen the situation in Zimbabwe.

“As the people of Zimbabwe await the outcome of the presidential elections, I wish to appeal to the peace loving people of Zimbabwe and the international community in general to encourage and support the people of Zimbabwe in their quest to resolve the current political problems they are going through. In this regard, nothing should be done by anybody that would further give rise to heightened tension in Zimbabwe,” advised President Mwanawasa.

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) president Morgan Tsvangirai has claimed victory over last month’s elections and called on President Robert Mugabe to concede defeat and step aside.

Tsvangirai has since called for the formation of a government of national unity but ZANU-PF has rejected the offer demanding for a recount of results, claiming the opposition rigged in 16 constituencies with the help of some officials from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Labels: ELECTIONS, SADC, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 2:11 AM