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Mugabe can't be humiliated any further, Botswana minister tells SADC s

Mugabe can't be humiliated any further, Botswana minister tells SADC s
By George Chellah in Johannesburg, South Africa
Tuesday August 19, 2008 [04:00]

President Robert Mugabe cannot be humiliated any further, Botswana foreign affairs minister Phandu Skelemani has told the SADC summit in Johannesburg. And SADC chairperson President Thabo Mbeki said he cannot continue with the dialogue on the Zimbabwean crisis because enough has been done. Informed sources disclosed to The Post that the closed door session of the SADC summit tabled the Zimbabwean crisis.

"The debate was on, trying to adopt the signed document between President Mugabe and Professor Arthur Mutambara (MDC faction leader). SADC wanted to endorse the draft document but Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete questioned the use of the word endorse," the source revealed.

"President Kikwete further suggested that SADC sends another delegation to meet MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his team. The answer they got was that 'give us time, we will report to the SADC organ on politics, defence and security'."

The source said Botswana foreign affairs minister Skelemani agreed with the power sharing deal after going through the document signed by Prof Mutambara and President Mugabe.

The source said President Mugabe also expressed his views on the events surrounding the negotiations.

"President Mugabe said 'I have had to be humiliated to this level. Don't expect me to concede any further than this'," the source said. "And Botswana's foreign minister said, 'I didn't sleep last night, I went through the document given to me.' He agreed with the deal (power-sharing) and they Botswana said President Mugabe can't be humiliated further than this."

The source said SADC accepted that Zimbabwe could not proceed much longer without a Parliament or government.

The source further disclosed that President Mbeki informed the meeting that enough had been done in the negotiations.

"President Mbeki told the meeting that, 'I can't continue with the dialogue process because everything has been done.' He said he met Morgan and he agreed on three occasions," the source said.

And in his closing speech, President Mbeki said the organ on politics, defence and security had continued deliberating on the Zimbabwean crisis.

"The organ on politics, defence and security has been dealing with the issue of Zimbabwe since last Friday and continues to engage on this matter," President Mbeki said. "After we have closed the summit, the organ will convene again to discuss this matter until it concludes these deliberations."
In its communiqué, the regional bloc reaffirmed its commitment to work with Zimbabweans.

SADC further stated that President Mbeki and DRC President Joseph Kabila were elected new SADC chairman and deputy chairman respectively.

King Mswati of Swaziland and Mozambique's President Armando Gwebuza were elected as SADC organ on politics, defence and security chairman and deputy chairman.

Meanwhile, Seychelles has been re-admitted to the regional body.

Earlier, during the launch of the SADC Free Trade Area, President Mbeki said it seemed unavoidable that the region must reaffirm the importance of regional integration for at least two reasons.

"Firstly, none of us will be able to assure political and social stability, security and economic development in our countries if the region as a whole continues to grapple with underdevelopment, instability, poverty and marginalisation," President Mbeki said. "Regional economic cooperation and integration offer us the opportunity to pool limited resources and build an economic base to address the challenges of economic growth and development.

"Secondly, regional economic integration can create the basis for regional markets and industries to overcome the limits of small national markets, to achieve economies of scale and enhance competitiveness as a platform to participate more effectively in the world economy."

He said there was need for a thorough assessment of SADC's strengths and weaknesses as it considers the challenges and opportunities that now present themselves to the region.

"Recent self-assessments that we have undertaken set out clear guidance in this regard. The Mid-Term Review of the Trade Protocol specified priority areas of work we need to undertake. This includes further work to improve regional rules of origin, to ease and reduce the costs of cross border trade through a range of trade facilitation measures and it requires progress on harmonizing regional technical and safety standards," President Mbeki said.

"All these constitute a large area of work which is administratively complex, requiring greater capacities at national and regional levels. It is vital that we focus on these matters as they will deliver enormous benefits for regional trade."

President Mbeki said while 85 per cent of all intra-SADC trade is duty free in 2008, SADC must acknowledge that the work is not complete.

"The remaining 15 per cent of trade is still to be liberalised fully by 2012 and we need to ensure that all members are able jointly to meet that milestone," he said.

President Mbeki said as it considers the path ahead, SADC needed to assess the impact of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU on its integration efforts.

Labels: BOTSWANA, MUGABE, SADC

posted by MrK @ 3:39 AM