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(TALKZIMBABWE) Communique of 30th Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Govt

Communique of 30th Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Govt
By: Sadc
Posted: Friday, August 20, 2010 1:41 am

The Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community was held in Windhoek, Republic of Namibia from August 16-17, 2010. Summit was officially opened by Sadc chairperson, His Excellency Joseph Kabila Kabange, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Summit elected His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba of the Republic of Namibia and His Excellency President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of the Republic of Angola as chairperson and deputy chairperson of Sadc respectively.

Summit also elected His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda of the Republic of Zambia and His Excellency Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa as chairperson and deputy chairperson of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation respectively.

The Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government:

H.E Lt-Gen Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of the Republic of Botswana; H.E Joseph Kabila Kabange, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Rt Hon Pakalitha B Mosisili, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho; H.E Ngwazi Professor Bingu wa Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi; Dr the Hon Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius; H.E Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique; H.E Hifikepunye Pohamba, the President of the Republic of Namibia; H.E Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa; H.M King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Swaziland; H.E Rupiah Bwezani Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia; H.E Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe; H.E Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, Vice President of the Republic of Angola; H.E Danny Foure, Vice President of the Republic of Seychelles; and H.E Amani Abeid Karume, President of Zanzibar of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Summit was also attended by the following former Heads of State and Government of Sadc Member States:

H.E. Sir Ketumile Masire, Former President of the Republic of Botswana; H.E. Joaquim Alberto Chissano, Former President of the Republic of Mozambique; H.E. Dr Sam Shafishuna Nujoma, Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation; and H.E. Kenneth David Kaunda, Founding President of the Republic of Zambia.

The following organisations were represented at the Summit:

The African Development Bank, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the East African Community, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Southern African Customs Union and the Sadc Parliamentary Forum.

His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba of the Republic of Namibia and host of the 30th Sadc Jubilee Summit welcomed the Sadc Heads of State and Government and all the delegates to the Republic of Namibia.

His Excellency thanked the Former Heads of State and Government of Sadc Member States for their vision and dedication as well as laying a solid foundation for the development of Sadc.

Summit was also addressed by the chairperson of the African Union, His Excellency Ngwazi Prof Bingu Wa Mutharika, the President of the Republic of Malawi.

His Excellency underscored the need for the region to achieve food security as a basis for sustainable economic growth.

His Excellency further called on the Southern African leaders to enhance the region’s application of science and technology to address issues of climate change, energy and infrastructure development.

His Excellency also urged Member States to give attention to safe motherhood programmes, at both country and regional levels, in order to significantly reduce maternal, infant and child mortality by 2015.

The outgoing Chairperson of Sadc, His Excellency President Joseph Kabila Kabange in his hand over statement, paid tribute to, amongst others, the Founding Fathers of Sadc, the Frontline States, and the visionary pan-African leaders.

He highlighted the achievements recorded by Sadc in the last 30 years which include infrastructure development, the launch of the Sadc Free Trade Area (FTA).

In his acceptance statement, His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba thanked the outgoing Chairperson for the able manner in which he steered Sadc during his tenure of office.

His Excellency pledged commitment to further strengthen cooperation among Sadc Member States in order to enhance the capacity of the region to address common challenges.

The Executive Secretary of Sadc, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomao highlighted progress made during the past year in the implementation of the regional development and integration agenda.

He noted that the region is still recovering from the global economic crisis and outlined policy measures to enable the region to cushion itself from any future economic crisis.

Summit congratulated the Republic of Angola and the Republic of South Africa for successfully hosting the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup respectively.

Summit received a report from the outgoing Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, His Excellency Armando Emilio Guebuza. Summit noted that the region continues to consolidate democracy, peace and security. In this regard, Summit noted the peaceful and orderly manner in which the people of Botswana, Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia exercised their democratic rights as they voted in the presidential and parliamentary elections held in their respective countries.

Summit noted that these electoral processes were regarded as free, fair, transparent and credible. Summit noted the efforts being made in the search for sustainable political solutions in the Kingdom of Lesotho, Republic of Madagascar and the Republic of Zimbabwe.

On the Kingdom of Lesotho, Summit commended the stakeholders for their commitment to the post-electoral dialogue, the role of the Christian Council of Lesotho and Sadc Facilitation Team in mediating the Lesotho post election dialogue.

Summit also urged the Lesotho stakeholders to work together towards the finalisation of the Bill Amending the Electoral Law as a matter of urgency.

On Madagascar, Summit commended His Excellency President Chissano, Sadc Mediator in the Madagascar dialogue, for his efforts of restoring constitutional normalcy in the country.

Summit approved the following:

l Sadc, the African Union and the wider international community should lend their political, technical, material and financial support to the process of Malgacho-Malgache dialogue; the Sadc Mediator should continue to follow the situation closely, avail his support and facilitation to the Malagasy as appropriate, and report regularly to Sadc and AU on developments in Madagascar; the need for the dialogue process to observe the key principles of neutrality, consensus, credibility and inclusiveness; establishment of a SADC liason office in Madagascar in order to support the dialogue process in the country; and continuation of the sanctions on the Republic of Madagascar until the country returns to constitutional nolmacy.

l Commended His Excellency Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa and Facilitator of the Zimbabwe Political Dialogue for facilitating the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

l Commended the Zimbabwe stakeholders for their efforts towards implementation of the GPA; Urged the Zimbabwe stakeholders to remain committed to the implementation of the GPA; reiterated its call on the international community to lift all forms of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe in view of the negative effects they have on Zimbabwe and the Sadc region in general; and mandated the Chairperson of Sadc assisted by the Chairperson of the Organ and the Facilitator of the Zimbabwe Political Dialogue to engage the international community on the issue of sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Summit noted the economic and security threat posed by piracy in the coastal waters of Sadc Member States, especially Seychelles, Mauritius and United Republic of Tanzania.

Summit mandated the Secretariat to send a team of technical experts to establish the extent of the problem and recommend appropriate measures.

Summit received a report from the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration.

Summit noted that the Task Force has adopted a comprehensive work programme with concrete actions and timelines aimed at consolidating the Sadc FTA.

Summit reaffirmed commitment to establish a Sadc Customs Union and endorsed the decision of the Task Force to appoint a high level expert group.

The main mandate of this group will be to consolidate and refine technical work so far done in order to reach agreement and common understanding on the parameters, benchmarks, timelines, a model customs union and its implementation modalities.

A report will be submitted to the Task Force before December 2011.

Summit noted the preparations towards establishing the Comesa-EACSADC Tripartite FTA.

Summit also noted that Sadc will host the next Tripartite Council and Summit.

To this end, Summit mandated the Chairperson of Council and the Executive Secretary to consult with Member States regarding the dates and venue of the Tripartite Council and Summit meetings.

Summit reviewed progress on the socio-economic situation in the region with particular focus on the impact of the global economic crisis on the region, food security, climate change, HIV and Aids and Gender and Development.

Summit noted the adverse socio-economic effects of the global economic crisis on the region and underscored the need to take into account various factors and players such as the emerging economies and business community in coming up with remedial measures. In this regard, Summit mandated the Sadc Secretariat in collaboration with the Chairperson of Sadc to convene an extraordinary Summit on Economic Development.

With regard to the food security situation in the region, Summit noted that there is overall improvement. In this regard, Summit noted that the region recorded overall increased food production in the current marketing year with cereal surpluses in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia.

Summit noted that while food production and availability has improved in the Region, access to food and malnutrition at household level remains a challenge.

Summit urged Member States to scale up the implementation of the Dar-es-salaam Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security and to support the African Food Basket Initiative, which is aimed at the transformation of the African Continent to food self sufficiency within the next five years.

In this regard, Summit mandated the Secretariat to explore how Sadc can access resources from the US$22 billion L’aquila Food Security Initiative pledged by the G8.

Summit reiterated Sadc’s support of the African common negotiating position on the global climate change regime after the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012. Summit noted that this issue will be discussed at the 16th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Cancun, Mexico in November-December 2010. 28.

Summit noted progress made in the implementation of the Maseru Declaration on Combating HIV and Aids, particularly on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission and the uptake of Anti-retroviral therapy.

In order to achieve universal access targets and mitigate the impact of HIV and Aids on socio-economic development and regional integration, Summit urged Member States to intensify their efforts in implementing the Maseru Declaration on Combating HIV and Aids.

Summit also urged Member States and the international community to support the replenishment of resources to the Global Fund to fight against HIV and Aids, TB and Malaria.

Summit noted progress made towards the achievement of the 50 percent representation of women in political and decision making positions at all levels in line with its 2005 decision.

Summit noted that the overall situation is generally varied with some Sadc Member States recording improvement while others are regressing. Summit urged Member States to ratify and implement the Protocol on Gender and Development.

Summit urged Member States to support safe motherhood programmes in order to reduce maternal, infant and child mortality in line with the Millennium Development Goal commitments.

Summit endorsed the Council decision on the establishment of the Regional Poverty Observatory which will facilitate the implementation of the Sadc Declaration on Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development.

Summit decided that a review of the role functions and terms of reference of the Sadc Tribunal should be undertaken and concluded within six months.

Summit celebrated the 30th Sadc Anniversary, during which felicitations on this special occasion were delivered on behalf of all the Sadc Heads of State and Government by H.E. the Vice-President Fernando Dias Dos Santos and H.E. President Mugabe.

Delivering the keynote speech on the 30th Anniversary, Sadc Chairperson and Host of the 30th Sadc Jubilee Summit, His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba of the Republic of Namibia said . . . Summit conferred the Sir Seretse Khama Sadc Medal to the following notable Statesmen of the Sadc Region: (a) His Excellency Dr Kenneth David Kaunda, Former President of the Republic of Zambia;

Advertisement (b) His Excellency Dr Sam Nujoma, Former President of the Republic of Namibia; and (c) Ambassador Brigadier General Hashim Mbita of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Summit appointed Ms Emilie Ayaza Mushobekwa from the Democratic Republic of Congo as Sadc Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration and she was sworn in by His Excellency, Ariranga G. Pillay, President of the Sadc Tribunal.

Summit also received the Windhoek Declaration for the 2010 Sadc First Spouses Summit of the SADC Region that underscored the importance of women’s economic empowerment as a strategy for poverty reduction.

The Summit expressed its appreciation to the Government and People of the Republic of Namibia for the warm hospitality extended to all delegates and facilities placed at their disposal that made this Summit a success.

His Excellency Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, Vice President of the Republic of Angola, gave a vote of thanks and on behalf of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos invited all Heads of State and or Government to the Republic of Angola for the next Summit.

Labels: SADC

posted by MrK @ 3:41 AM