Need for common Sadc defence policy
SADC countries still spend far too high a percentage of their national budgets on defence, a legacy of the liberation struggles so many in Southern Africa had to fight and the destabilisation, foreign interference and banditry that far too often followed. Although, for the first time in decades, there is no war in Southern Africa at the moment, regional history still suggests the wisdom of maintaining respectable defence forces to deter those who want to start something violent.
In a sense, defence expenditure is like buying an insurance policy. You hope your car never crashes, nor that your house burns down, but you take precautions, paying out what is required, so you can survive if the worse comes to the worst.
With colonialism and settler rule eliminated by the mid-1990s, and regional integration growing, many felt that defence expenditure could then drop fast. But a couple of years later there came the Rwandan massacres and the invasions of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the border of Sadc, and several Sadc countries had to commit significant numbers of troops, including Zimbabwe.
But, in a sense, those over-optimistic analysts of the mid-1990s had a point, that collective self-defence could reduce the total defence bill for the region.
This does require more regional integration than existed then and the growth of a regional identity and a regional commitment. Such an identity and such a commitment is growing.
Joint exercises have been held. Senior Sadc officers have familiarised themselves with each other’s command and control elements so they can work together in an emergency.
Last year a major step forward was taken with the establishment of the Sadc Brigade, a multinational force that could be deployed anywhere in the region. And last week another step was taken with the completion of a regional training course in Zimbabwe for support staff for this brigade, a critical element frequently missed by civilians who forget that fighting troops need, in modern times, quite complex logistical chains if they are going to be effective. In fact, the support chain usually absorbs far more manpower than the fighting troops.
We hope that this brigade is just a first step towards an eventual integrated regional defence force that can be deployed anywhere in Sadc to face an external threat or internal banditry.
But before that can happen there is a need for all Sadc countries to have a common defence policy.
This would almost certainly mean no one country can have a defence alliance with a power from outside the region; it would have to be all or none. We would hope that Southern Africa will not get entangled with alliances, especially alliances from outside the African continent.
The matter has to be addressed quickly with the United States now getting interested in having treaties with selected countries.
That US interference requires an acceleration in the process of building a regional defence treaty as powerful as the Warsaw Pact and Nato both had in the cruel days of the Cold War making unilateral alliances an impossibility.
Sadc would also require an integrated regional command, common weapons systems, a common command and training doctrine, and preferably enough industrial infrastructure to at least manufacture basic ammunition so that the region could not be held to ransom in even the short term. All this is possible if the political will exists. The pay-off is significant: greatly enhanced security at a much lower cost.
Labels: ARMED FORCES, SADC
Read more...
It's a great loss to SADC, Mugabe mourns Levy
By George Chellah, Christopher Miti and Mwala Kalaluka
Friday August 22, 2008 [04:00]
THE death of President Levy Mwanawasa is a great loss to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, President Robert Mugabe has said. And Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika described the late President Mwanawasa as a great son of Africa whose advice, wisdom and contribution to finding a lasting solution to peace and prosperity in the SADC region would always be cherished.
President Mugabe expressed his sympathies in a message of condolences addressed to Zambia’s Vice-President Rupiah Banda on Wednesday evening.
He said Zimbabwe shares Zambia’s sorrow during this period of bereavement and mourning.
President Mugabe said the death of President Mwanawasa was a great loss not only to the people of Zambia but to SADC, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African (COMESA) region and the entire African continent.
"It is with profound shock and sorrow that I learnt of the untimely death of our dear brother and colleague, His Excellency President Levy Mwanawasa," said President Mugabe. "On behalf of the government and people of Zimbabwe, and on my own behalf, I would like to convey to you, to the Mwanawasa family, as well as to the government and people of the Republic of Zambia, sincere and heartfelt condolences.
"May his soul rest in eternal peace. Please accept, Honourable Vice- President, the expression of our deepest sympathies."
And in his message of condolences released by Malawi's State House and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Vice-President Banda, President Wa Mutharika said he had learnt with deep shock, sorrow and grief about the death of President Mwanawasa at a military hospital in Paris, France on Tuesday.
He said the death of President Mwanawasa was a great loss not only to Zambia but SADC in particular and Africa in general.
President Wa Mutharika said President Mwanawasa worked hard to promote friendship and cooperation between the people of Zambia and Malawi.
President Wa Mutharika asked God to strengthen the bereaved family as well as the people of Zambia on this tragic loss.
And Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of Britain said President Mwanawasa's leadership achievements had earned him the respect of the Commonwealth and other nations.
In her message of condolences, Queen Elizabeth paid tribute to President Mwanawasa for his commitment and good leadership in serving the country.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said President Mwanawasa would be remembered for his anti-corruption work and exemplary leadership in the SADC region, apart from growing the Zambian economy.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated that President Mwanawasa's fight against corruption in Zambia and his work towards economic reform would be his lasting legacy.
Harper stated that under President Mwanawasa's leadership, Zambia had been a strong and reliable partner of Canada.
"President Mwanawasa was a strong and principled African leader," Prime Minister Harper stated. "He will be missed."
Meanwhile, Anglican Diocese of Eastern Zambia Bishop William Mchombo stated that President Mwanawasa had left a legacy of good governance, intolerance to corruption and consistency in the running of state affairs.
Bishop Mchombo appealed to the people of Zambia to remain united and peaceful during this time of grief.
"President Mwanawasa has managed to put the economy on good footing. These have helped to earn Zambia and its people a lot of respect and dignity in the region and on international scene.
He has further earned a lot of respect and dignity for Zambia and for Zambians by being a straight forward person and for standing up for the well being of the people of Zimbabwe as they faced political crises," Bishop Mchombo stated.
He stated that President Mwanawasa was selfless in the way he delivered to the Zambian people and had great love for his country.
"On behalf of the Anglican Diocese of Eastern Zambia, and indeed on my own behalf, I would like to convey my deepest sympathy and condolences to the first lady, Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa and the entire Mwanawasa family and indeed to all the people of Zambia.
May the good Lord remain our refuge and fortress in this hour of darkness and distress," stated Bishop Muchombo.
Labels: MUGABE, MWANAWASA, SADC
Read more...
It's a great loss to SADC, Mugabe mourns Levy
By George Chellah, Christopher Miti and Mwala Kalaluka
Friday August 22, 2008 [04:00]
THE death of President Levy Mwanawasa is a great loss to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, President Robert Mugabe has said. And Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika described the late President Mwanawasa as a great son of Africa whose advice, wisdom and contribution to finding a lasting solution to peace and prosperity in the SADC region would always be cherished.
President Mugabe expressed his sympathies in a message of condolences addressed to Zambia’s Vice-President Rupiah Banda on Wednesday evening.
He said Zimbabwe shares Zambia’s sorrow during this period of bereavement and mourning.
President Mugabe said the death of President Mwanawasa was a great loss not only to the people of Zambia but to SADC, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African (COMESA) region and the entire African continent.
"It is with profound shock and sorrow that I learnt of the untimely death of our dear brother and colleague, His Excellency President Levy Mwanawasa," said President Mugabe. "On behalf of the government and people of Zimbabwe, and on my own behalf, I would like to convey to you, to the Mwanawasa family, as well as to the government and people of the Republic of Zambia, sincere and heartfelt condolences.
"May his soul rest in eternal peace. Please accept, Honourable Vice- President, the expression of our deepest sympathies."
And in his message of condolences released by Malawi's State House and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Vice-President Banda, President Wa Mutharika said he had learnt with deep shock, sorrow and grief about the death of President Mwanawasa at a military hospital in Paris, France on Tuesday.
He said the death of President Mwanawasa was a great loss not only to Zambia but SADC in particular and Africa in general.
President Wa Mutharika said President Mwanawasa worked hard to promote friendship and cooperation between the people of Zambia and Malawi.
President Wa Mutharika asked God to strengthen the bereaved family as well as the people of Zambia on this tragic loss.
And Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of Britain said President Mwanawasa's leadership achievements had earned him the respect of the Commonwealth and other nations.
In her message of condolences, Queen Elizabeth paid tribute to President Mwanawasa for his commitment and good leadership in serving the country.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said President Mwanawasa would be remembered for his anti-corruption work and exemplary leadership in the SADC region, apart from growing the Zambian economy.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated that President Mwanawasa's fight against corruption in Zambia and his work towards economic reform would be his lasting legacy.
Harper stated that under President Mwanawasa's leadership, Zambia had been a strong and reliable partner of Canada.
"President Mwanawasa was a strong and principled African leader," Prime Minister Harper stated. "He will be missed."
Meanwhile, Anglican Diocese of Eastern Zambia Bishop William Mchombo stated that President Mwanawasa had left a legacy of good governance, intolerance to corruption and consistency in the running of state affairs.
Bishop Mchombo appealed to the people of Zambia to remain united and peaceful during this time of grief.
"President Mwanawasa has managed to put the economy on good footing. These have helped to earn Zambia and its people a lot of respect and dignity in the region and on international scene.
He has further earned a lot of respect and dignity for Zambia and for Zambians by being a straight forward person and for standing up for the well being of the people of Zimbabwe as they faced political crises," Bishop Mchombo stated.
He stated that President Mwanawasa was selfless in the way he delivered to the Zambian people and had great love for his country.
"On behalf of the Anglican Diocese of Eastern Zambia, and indeed on my own behalf, I would like to convey my deepest sympathy and condolences to the first lady, Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa and the entire Mwanawasa family and indeed to all the people of Zambia.
May the good Lord remain our refuge and fortress in this hour of darkness and distress," stated Bishop Muchombo.
Labels: MUGABE, SADC
Read more...
SADC now a free trade area
Itayi GARANDE
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:25:00 +0000
A map of the Free Trade Area (FAT) is shown on the screen during the 28th summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), in Johannesburg, South Africa, Aug. 17, 2008. The SADC officially launched the Free Trade Area (FTA) under the theme of "SADC Free Trade Area for Growth, Development and Wealth Creation" on Sunday.(Xinhua Photo/Xu Suhui)
THE Southern African Development Community (Sadc) which boasts 15 members including Zimbabwe, is now a Free Trade Area (FTA) as leaders attending the just ended summit of heads of states and government have signed the related agreement.
Following along the lines of the European Union and other regional free trade zones the region has made a historic step toward the vision of a fully integrated economic region.
This means most goods produced in the region can now enter member countries free of custom duties. As for January next year, 85 per cent of goods will be exempted from tax in the SADC area aiming to fully liberalize by 2012. This will help to facilitate smooth operation of business among SADC member states and reach out to 230 million consumers in the sub-region.
The memorandum establishing the FTA – an idea first mooted (and adopted) in Maseru, Lesotho after it gained independence from Britain in 1966 – says it is expected to enhance economic growth, create jobs and fight poverty in the region.
The current SADC Chair President Thabo Mbeki launched the trade protocol, and praised the region's joint effort. He warned against taking the agreement for granted as it was a major step in the development of the region.
“I raised this because we need to resuscitate the shared vision and commitment, the unity and cohesion that has characterized Sadc from its inception”, said President Mbeki.
In line with this vision, the South African president pledged the Sadc troika's total commitment to resolving the Zimbabwe crisis, stressing that only Zimbabweans will be able to truly find a solution to the crisis in the country.
Eleven of the 14 countries that are part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will participate in the Free Trade Area. These are Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Three SADC countries - Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi - plan to join at a later date due to weak economies.
The Free Trade Area precedes a Customs Union planned by 2010, a Common Market by 2015, Monetary Union by 2016, and a single currency by 2018.
The agreement is inspired by the classic principles of comparative advantages, which in this case advocate that member countries should produce and export goods with a comparative advantage, importing good from the region’s countries that they are unable to efficiently produce themselves.
The two-day summit was also marked by the return of the Seychelles, a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean which decided to move out of the Sadc immediately after it joined in 2000 for economic reasons. It is yet to join the FTA.
Labels: FREE TRADE AREA, SADC, SADC FREE TRADE AREA
Read more...
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
Read more...
President Mbeki briefs the press on SADC summit
Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:35:00 +0000
REMARKS by South African President Thabo Mbeki on the conclusion of the 28th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit, Sandton, August 17 2008.
Ladies and gentlemen of the media, good evening. I am sure that all of you have received a copy of the communiqué that was approved by the SADC Summit earlier today which contains the principle decisions that were taken by the SADC Summit. In that context, I must repeat the strong view of the Summit, all of us wish the President of Zambia Levy Mwanawasa a speedy recovery, our outgoing Chair.
We discussed off course as is normal at a SADC Summit political and socio-economic issues and on the political front, noted the efforts being made in the region to address issues in that areas - that include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi and off course, Zimbabwe, I will return to this just now.
It is our belief that all these situations in the DRC, the resolution of the electoral dispute in Lesotho, and the constitutional dispute in Malawi, that progress is being made towards the resolution of the challenges in that regard.
As we indicated earlier, the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation chaired by Angolan President Dos Santos and later by the new Chairperson of the Organ, His Majesty King Mswati III, met on Friday, Saturday and today to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe. In that context, the SADC Organ has issued a communiqué that you will receive shortly which among other things, expresses firm opinion that documents that are contained in the Facilitator's Report reflect that framework, spirit and purpose of the SADC and African Union decisions and in view of that, that they are a good basis for a global agreement among the Zimbabwe parties and in that context, therefore, we appeal to the Zimbabwe parties to sign any outstanding agreements and to conclude the negotiations in Zimbabwe and said recognizing that while negotiations are continuing it may be necessary to convene parliament to give effect to the will of the people as expressed in the Parliamentary elections in March this year and off course, encouraged the Facilitator to continue the mediation efforts which means that the negotiations will continue and the Facilitation will continue to do its work in this regard in trying to implement this decision of SADC and encourage the parties to conclude these outstanding agreements on the basis, that in fact, the documents that have been agreed to, provide this good basis for the conclusion of the negotiations.
In that context, I must mention that the report of the Facilitator that is referred to in the communiqué of the Extraordinary Summit of the Organ is a comprehensive report which contains all of the documents that have been negotiated and agreed to in the negotiations that started last year and that would include the Draft Constitution that was agreed to in September last year and a whole range of other documents. It is a comprehensive report of the negotiations as they have been going on now for at least 15 months. That is the report to which the resolution refers.
Off course, the outstanding result of the conference with regard to economic matters is the formal launch of the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) and the critical challenge with regard to that is that we implement everything that is contained in this FTA to accelerate the process of economic integration of the region.
The Summit also then said, that given that we have launched the FTA we must continue the work that would lead to the formation of the SADC Customs Union that would be the next step in that regard.
It also paid attention to two important matters related: the implementation of the decisions that came out of the conference held in Mauritius to address poverty in the region and again, you would see that reflected in the communiqué that was issued earlier and a related matter about food security and again took decisions about what we should do in this regard to act within the region to address food shortages that some countries in the region are experiencing but otherwise to deal with this matter of ensuring that the region is self-sufficient in food production and what specific steps need to be taken in that regard.
Off course naturally, we addressed the matter of energy and what could be done in the region to address this.
As you know, we also signed a number of legal instruments which included the Protocol on Gender and Agreements in Science and Technology, Trade and so on. So, these are some of the principle outcomes and as I had indicated, they would be included in the SADC communiqué as well as the communiqué of the Extraordinary Summit of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation.
It is our view that certainly the Conference completed its agenda and it is our view that it was indeed an excellent Summit that took decisions which are of importance to the political and economic structure of the region and in amending various provisions to the SADC Secretariat which also meant amending the Treaty of SADC also emphasized the point that SADC Summit is very keen that we should indeed have the capacity to implement the decisions that have been taken so that we do indeed accelerate our forward movement with regard to all of these matters that relate to political stability and so on in the region as well as the process of economic integration and the socio-economic upliftment of all the people in our region so, we believe that this was indeed a very successful Summit and I must conclude by saying that we are very pleased that Seychelles came back into SADC and that in itself was confirmation of the relevance of SADC in terms of the future of our countries in the region and that is indeed why Seychelles thought it was important that it should come back into the Community and we are very pleased by this.
Let me then finally thank all of you for your co-operation in covering the Summit and the SADC region in particular and I would hope that we would continue to co-operate in the manner in which we have because we are very interested indeed that our people in the region, in particular, should be familiar with the decisions we are taking and the work that the Community is doing.
Thank you.
Questions and answers
Question: Mr President I would like to know if you have any sense of when we can expect to see a final agreement signed by the negotiating parties in Zimbabwe? Can you also give us a sense of the concerns around the outstanding agreements?
Mbeki: It is clearly not possible to say when the negotiations would be concluded. It is a matter of the negotiating parties convening to look at whatever matter might be outstanding. One cannot allocate a date to this and the SADC Organ did not indicate a date by which this matter should be concluded with regard to the completion of this process, except to indicate the urgency of the matter. So, it is not possible to say when the negotiations would be concluded.
Question: Mr President you said that the Organ agreed that the documents provided form a good basis on which to conclude the negotiations. Does that mean that you
feel that there is no need to negotiate over the documents?
Mbeki: I am not aware if this communiqué has been distributed. You will see that that particular paragraph expresses the strong opinion of the Extraordinary Summit of the SADC Organ having studied the documents to which I referred earlier, came that conclusion looking at those documents relative to the decisions/resolutions of SADC and the African Union on the matter, expressed that opinion but said that negotiations should continue and that would include concluding negotiations and signing any outstanding agreements as a matter of urgency.
So essentially, what the Extraordinary Summit was saying was that negotiations should continue but of course, having had the possibility for the first time of looking at the entirety of the documentation, the Organ felt it should express its own view about this because bearing in mind, these two resolutions - SADC and the African Union - so, it says that negotiations need to continue but it is off that view with regard to the quality and extent of the work that has already been done by the Zimbabwean negotiators that they have produced a set of documents that in the view of the Organ do indeed address the issues that were raised in these two resolutions and to that extent, they believe form a good basis for a speedy resolution of outstanding matters but that the negotiations must off course, continue.
Question: Mr President what are the outstanding issues in the agreement?
Mbeki: Let me explain something before we get more questions - I am speaking here not as the Facilitator but as the Chair of SADC. Now you are asking me to get involved in a discussion that deals with the Facilitation and I must say that I cannot answer questions posed to the Facilitator - I can answer questions posed to the Chair of SADC but bear in mind that there is an agreement in the Facilitation process arrived at by all the parties and the Facilitation that we would not handle the process of negotiations through the media and indeed I am sure you will remember this because it is also included in the Memorandum of Understanding so to that extent, there is a limitation that is imposed with regard to how much detail we can express but that is a matter that belongs to the Facilitation process.
But with regard to what the Organ discussed I think it is properly and fully reflected in the communiqué of the Extraordinary Summit of the Organ.
Question: Mr President yesterday, when you were speaking as the Chair of SADC, you said that the negotiations needed to be concluded to extricate the Zimbabwean people from the dire situation in which they find themselves. Could you give us an impression of what you see as the humanitarian urgency for a deal?
Mbeki: What drove SADC in the first place, to last year convene an extraordinary Summit of the Organ in Dar-es-Salaam in March last year to discuss Zimbabwe - there were other matters on the agenda like the DRC and so on - was driven by very serious concerns about the matter you have referred to, the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.
And the discussions that have taken place over the last three days focused us on really trying to assist to speed up the process of the conclusion of the negotiations and the implementation of the agreements that would come from these negotiations.
It is driven precisely by these very deep seated concerns in the region that the political concerns must be created so that with the greatest urgency this humanitarian, economic and social condition in Zimbabwe can be addressed as a matter of urgency by an inclusive government. So it is matter of fundamental concern to the region - this socio-economic and humanitarian condition of the people of Zimbabwe.
But believe that we need this inclusive government to drive this process of addressing these challenges but this consideration of the humanitarian situation of the people of Zimbabwe is fundamental to all of the statements that are made and this decision of SADC emphasizing the urgency of this matter. It is not just to address the political stability but also to create the conditions so that you have an inclusive government that would then address these other urgent issues.
Question: Mr President as the Chair of SADC, do you believe that any deal that leaves President Mugabe with any power is going to be acceptable to the international donor community and is it going to be a long term solution to the crisis in Zimbabwe?
Mbeki: The two resolutions that bind the Facilitation - the first one said specifically that could the Facilitator please get the ruling party and the opposition to meet and discuss in order to resolve the political challenges facing Zimbabwe.
The African Union resolution said the same thing. And so, we have indeed been working over this period with the ruling party and the MDC lead by Mr Tsvangirai and the MDC lead by Professor Mutambara and the decision that will be reached about what needs to happen will come from the Zimbabwean parties.
It certainly would not be correct for the Facilitator to hand down any prescriptions to say that the person or group that should be part of the inclusive government to which these parties have agreed so it would be a matter really that the Zimbabwean parties would agree to - who is in that inclusive government and the role that they would play in that inclusive government.
That must truly come from the Zimbabwe parties because I think of all of us, they know best what is good for Zimbabwe and the thing is that everybody - the Facilitator, SADC, the international community - would have to respect what the Zimbabwe political leadership says about Zimbabwe and I am quite certain that the Zimbabwe political parties would answer the question you have posed on the basis of what they think is right for Zimbabwe, what they think is required in Zimbabwe.
It is not any determination that can, nor indeed should, be made by anybody. Let's really allow the people of Zimbabwe to determine their future. This is critically important because any solution that is imposed from outside will not last, it will not last, unless it is a common product that is owned by this entire collective of the leadership of Zimbabwe. I think if the Facilitation tried to impose any solution we would be creating a situation that actually would amount to creating conditions for the failure of whatever might be incorrectly described as a solution.
Transcript issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Pretoria, August 18 2008
Labels: FREE TRADE AREA, SADC, SADC FREE TRADE AREA, THABO MBEKI, ZIMBABWE
Read more...
Sadc urges convening of parliament
Ranganai Chidemo
Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:58:00 +0000
Opposition leaders Arthur Mutambara (L-behind), Morgan Tsvangirai (L-front) and Tendai Biti (R) attend the SADC meeting in Johannesburg on Sunday 17 August, 2008
THE Southern African Development Community (Sadc) meeting ended Sunday with heads of states urging President Robert Mugabe to reconvene Zimbabwe's parliament despite continuing negotiations between him and opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued after a meeting of the Sadc organ on politics, defence and security on Zimbabwe held in Johannesburg earlier Sunday.
“While negotiations (on a government of national unity) are continuing it may be necessary to convene parliament to give effect to the will of the people as expressed in the parliamentary elections held on March 29, 2008,” the communiqué said.
President Mugabe's Zanu PF party has been pushing for parliament to be reconvened since opposition Tsvangirai walked away from a meeting with the Zanu PF party and the other formation of the MDC led by Professor Arthur Mutambara. .
The main summit of the 15-nation Sadc grouping had failed to resolve a disagreement between President Mugabe and Tsvangirai on how they would share power in an all-inclusive government. It was chaired by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. This will be Mbeki’s last role in the regional group as he is due to step down in May next year.
Reconvening parliament will mean that President Mugabe will be recognized by the opposition as President.
In urging President Mugabe to reconvene parliament, the Sadc organ in its communiqué “expressed strong opinion that documents as contained in the facilitators’ report are a good basis for a global agreement”.
The documents which are basically an agreement between the parties in the unity talks are viewed by the MDC-T as inadequate and unacceptable. Tsvangirai argued that the documents did not sufficiently guarantee his authority, and were therefore unacceptable.
In defending his decision to boycott the talks last week Tsvangirai told Sadc leaders during the summit; “A prime minister cannot be given responsibility without authority and be expected to deliver.”
The three parties to the talks agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that Sadc should play a key role as mediator. Sadc, together with the mediator, Preisdnet Mbeki and the African Union will underwrite the final agreement. Section 11 of the MoU says “The implementation of the Global Political Agreement that the Parties will conclude shall be underwritten and guaranteed by the Facilitator, SADC and the AU.”
MDC-T reaction Sadc’s call
The Secretary General of the MDC-T party, Tendai Biti said if President Mugabe reconvenes parliament he will be breaching the MoU signed by Zanu PF and the two MDC formations which set down rules for the tripartite talks.
The MoU orders that the parties to the unity talks should not convene parliament or form a new government “save by consensus.” Section 9 of the MoU stipulates that “The Parties shall not, during the subsistence of the Dialogue, take any decisions or measures that have a bearing on the agenda of the Dialogue, save by consensus. Such decisions or measures include, but are not limited to the convening of Parliament or the formation of a new government.”
Said Biti: “We hope that no one would do anything to breach the Memorandum of Understanding on the talks.” He also reiterated that the sticking point in the talks was a point “of principle”. Sources privy to the negotiators say the sticking point pertained to the distribution of executive power between President Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai in his new role as Prime Minister. MDC is said to have “stuck by its guns”.
President Mbeki, who had hoped for a deal over the weekend, expressed his hopes for a “speedy conclusion to the negotiations so that it becomes possible to address the enormous challenges that face the people of Zimbabwe.”
He reiterated that any lasting solution to the Zimbabwe crisis will have to involve all the parties involved.
Zim Guardian/AFP
Labels: ARTHUR MUTAMBARA, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, SADC, TENDAI BITI
Read more...
Santos asks Morgan to prove his victory claim
By George Chella in Johannesburg, South Africa
Sunday August 17, 2008 [04:00]
ANGOLAN President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has challenged MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai to substantiate his claims that he won the March 29 presidential elections in Zimbabwe. And the Zambian government has said events leading to the presidential runoff in Zimbabwe had left a serious blot on the culture of democracy in SADC.
Informed sources yesterday told The Post that the SADC organ on defence and security on Friday requested Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to address it on the situation in the country.
“President Mugabe was asked to address the organ which he did, including laying to bear the facts of the agreements but when Morgan Tsvangirai was requested, he also gave his side.’
e said ‘the people of Zimbabwe spoke in March and that position should be recognised,” the source revealed. “But Dos Santos challenged Tsvangirai saying his statement was inconsistent with what the leaders have. Dos Santos said ‘this is inconsistent with what we have.
It’s also inconsistent with your own law which you don’t seem to understand so can you please get a lawyer to interpret this for you.’”
The source further said that the MDC faction leader Professor Arthur Mutambara also explained to the organ on the situation in Zimbabwe.
“Professor Mutambara told the organ that, ‘yes in March people spoke but what did they say? They never said a single party should take power. They said the parties must share power since there was no outright winner in the March elections and this is what we are doing,’” said the source.
And Zambia’s foreign affairs minister Kabinga Pande, who was representing outgoing SADC chairperson President Levy Mwanawasa, gave the Zambian position on the Zimbabwean crisis.
“The regrettable events leading to the runoff have no doubt left a serious blot on the culture of democracy in our region. This brought into a question the ability of SADC to maintain the rule of law,” Pande said.
“I take cognisance of the decision of the African Union urging political parties in Zimbabwe to dialogue to find a solution to the political crisis in the country.”
Pande also welcomed the dialogue on the Zimbabwe crisis led by South African President Thabo Mbeki.
On infrastructure development, Pande said the SADC heads of state held a special session on the need to scale up infrastructure.
“It was agreed that there was need to upgrade our regional infrastructure,” Pande said. “On 24th July, 2008 Botswana and Zambia signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of the Kazungula Bridge on the Zambezi River.”
Pande also said the region faced energy deficits which were reaching worrying levels. He also said the region was experiencing adverse effects of droughts, floods and cyclones.
Pande said the launch of the Free Trade Area would facilitate trade and regional integration.
On the Xenophobia attacks in South Africa recently, Pande said the attacks deterred SADC efforts on smooth implementation of free movements of goods and labour.
And in his acceptance speech, SADC chairperson President Mbeki thanked the Zimbabwean political leadership for the efforts in the dialogue process.
“I salute leaders of Zimbabwe for the enormous efforts made to agree on the common agenda to address the issues facing the nation,” President Mbeki said. “Let them finalise negotiations and attend to the reconstruction of Zimbabwe and take the people off the dire straits.”
President Mbeki said people had high hopes and awaited positive results from the Zimbabwean talks.
“We can draw the inspiring legacy of frontline states. We must help to restore Zimbabwe on the road to recovery,” he said.
Earlier in his welcoming remarks, President Mbeki said South Africa was delighted to welcome people to the summit which would include the launch of the Free Trade Area and also the re-admission of Seychelles.
“Without SADC, we will not be able to achieve regional development and integration. It’s important to be conscious that whatever we do or don’t, we will swim or sink together,” President Mbeki said. “I trust that the 28th SADC summit will confront poverty, underdevelopment, deepen democracy and political stability.”
And African Union commission chairperson Jean Ping expressed sincere gratitude to President Mbeki for successfully hosting the 28th summit. He also paid tribute to President Mwanawasa for spearheading the creation of the Free Trade Area.
“Tomorrow, SADC will launch its Free Trade Area. I would like to congratulate all the SADC heads of state, and allow me to pay tribute to President Levy Mwanawasa for spearheading the creation of the SADC Free Trade Area in his capacity as outgoing SADC chairman. Owing to his illness, he is not here to witness this historic launch of the SADC FTA,” he said. “On behalf of the AU and myself, I wish His Excellency a quick recovery.”
And SADC executive secretary Dr Thomaz Salomao urged the region to endeavor to have peace through dialogue.
He said peace, security and political stability were a prerequisite to progress. Dr Salomao also said the state of regional infrastructure continued to pose challenges.
Meanwhile, Botswana President Major General Ian Kharma boycotted the summit.
The Botswana government recently indicated that it would not attend the summit because there was no legitimate government in Zimbabwe.
Labels: FREE TRADE AREA, JOSE EDWARDO DOS SANTOS, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, SADC, SANCTIONS
Read more...
Zimbabwe negotiators aim for deal before SADC summit
• Text: Memorandum of Understanding between Zanu PF and MDC
Last updated: 15/08/2008 14:04:47
NEGOTIATORS from Zimbabwe's rival parties are meeting to try and reach a settlement to the country's crisis before this weekend's regional summit, a spokesman for an opposition faction said Friday. "They are trying to come to a settlement before the SADC meeting on Saturday," said Edwin Mushoriwa, spokesman for Arthur Mutambara, who heads a smaller faction of Zimbabwe's opposition.
"They are already in South Africa at the moment and they are discussing, they are actually negotiating," said Mushoriwa. A summit of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community will be held in South Africa this weekend.
Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai arrived in Johannesburg earlier Friday after his travel documents were briefly seized by authorities at Harare airport the previous day.
President Robert Mugabe was expected to arrive later on Friday.
Power-sharing talks between the rivals were stalled when three days of negotiations adjourned on Tuesday after Tsvangirai said he needed more time to consider a deal agreed by Mugabe and Mutambara.
Tsvangirai said after his passport was briefly seized on Thursday that he remained "hopeful" talks to resolve the country's crisis would resume.
"The whole thing was going to be determined at this SADC summit," he said.
Zimbabwe's crisis intensified after Mugabe's re-election in a June presidential run-off widely condemned as a sham.
Tsvangirai boycotted the run-off despite finishing ahead of Mugabe in the March first round, citing rising violence against his supporters. - AFP
Labels: ARTHUR MUTAMBARA, NEGOTIATIONS, SADC
Read more...
SADC shouldn't head toward Calvary
By Editor
Sunday August 10, 2008 [04:00]
THE Council of Churches in Zambia’s call for continued unity, peace and integration in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as Zambia hands over the regional chairmanship to South Africa needs to be echoed by all our people, all our leaders.
Experience has repeatedly shown that a region divided into hostile groups loses focus. Protracted political differences within a region inevitably lead to member states’ concentration on discords. The region becomes distracted from its legitimate struggles and loses its influence in the world.
The unity of all the SADC countries is absolutely necessary. All our countries in SADC are - to varying degrees and in different ways - experiencing enormous difficulties, problems that are often greater than the determination, strength and possibilities our political leaders have for solving them.
Sometimes, our political leaders find themselves in very complex, difficult situations. The approach to the vital questions affecting us and the solutions we seek can and should be shared.
We should rise above the controversies that sometimes threaten to turn us into enemies because of old disputes or intrigues, ambitions or machinations of imperialism. Generally speaking, all are the product of the system of domination and control that subjugated us for centuries. The abolition of conflicts among our countries and our peoples should be a basic law of our states and an integral part of our struggle for universal peace.
We must struggle tenaciously to promote the closest possible unity in SADC and with all African and other Third World countries. We must not allow anybody or anything to divide us.
We must use political formulas and negotiations to solve those problems which make some of our countries and our leaders oppose each other.
Let us form an indestructible battle line of peoples to demand recognition for our noble aspirations, our legitimate interests and our inalienable right to survive, both as SADC countries and as an inseparable part of Africa and of mankind.
We have never been characterised by resigned submission or defeatism in the face of difficulties. We have confronted complex, difficult situations in the past with unity, firmness and determination.
Together we have striven and struggled and together we have scored victories. In this same spirit and with this same determination, we must be ready to wage the most colossal, legitimate, worthy and necessary battle for our peoples’ lives and future.
The events in Zimbabwe are deplorable, but they show the crisis that can be caused by the policy of social confrontation some of our countries have had to endure.
But we shouldn’t forget that we are part of a continent that today represents one of the most important, if not the most important, fields of battle against all forms of exploitation existing in the world, against imperialism and neo-colonialism. There are big possibilities for success, but there are also many dangers.
What we consider to be the greatest danger for our region and our continent is the possibility of divisions among our peoples which appear to be continually rising. We have concrete reasons for fearing this danger.
We have no worthy, honourable, independent alternative to regional unity and integration – if we don’t achieve this, we will have no place in the world of the future.
Our politicians and other leaders should become aware of this and see our problems clearly. Often, the specific conditions of each of our countries limits its manoeuvrability, its capacity to struggle and work for true integration and to further SADC’s interests.
We must choose concrete, realistic and definitive solutions – not take the path of agony. We must choose a clear, intelligent, effective solution – not head toward Calvary.
We think we have been struggling uphill for long enough. We have suffered not only the torment of Calvary but also that of Sisyphus, who had to keep pushing a boulder up a hill and every time he was about to reach the top, it would roll back down and he would have to start all over again.
Our situation is worse than Calvary because Calvary was climbed quickly; we have been climbing our hill for a long time, and we keep on having to start over. Calvary is preferable to Sisyphus’ torment, and if we have had our Calvary, we should also have a resurrection.
What we want to find is a real solution for the problem, but what will happen is that imperialism will try to prevent the implementation of these solutions and divide the people; they will give a little praise and aid here and there so that each will remain with his own Calvary – not even a Calvary, but with the agonising torture of pushing the boulder up a never-ending hill.
But one day the peoples are going to demand, “How much longer do we have to put up with these conditions?”
And then they will find solutions. We prefer an orderly solution; internal and external unity; and a real, definitive solution for the problems we face.
These positions in regard to these matters are principled, they are informed by the history of our region, and their consistent application will lay the basis for a consolidated SADC unity and for contributing to the broader task of SADC in the current conjecture.
Our peoples are perfectly capable of deciding upon their own future and themselves dealing with any dangers which might arise.
We need to exert ourselves that much more and move out of the vicious cycle of being controlled by those who dare to fashion the world in their own image.
Conflict threatens not only the gains we have made but also our collective future. One destabilising conflict in any country of our region is one too many. And as such we should treat the question of peace and stability in our region as a common challenge.
The problems of Zimbabwe should not divide our region.
It should instead bring our countries much closer to each other like problems or bereavements often do in families: they offer an opportunity for family members to come together and a challenge for them to tear each other to pieces. Let’s ensure the difficult political and economic situation our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe are today enduring bring us as a region together.
Labels: REGIONAL INTEGRATION, SADC
Read more...
Zambia to handover SADC chairmanship to SA
Posted on August 8th, 2008
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Mike Mulongoti says government is ready and prepared to hand over the Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairmanship to South Africa this month. Mr. Mulongoti says in the absence of President Mwanawasa ,who is the current chair of SADC, Vice President, Rupiah Banda will hand over the chairmanship. Mr. Mulongoti said in an interview in Lusaka today.
He added that Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande or any other minister who will be available at the hand over ceremony will present the chairmanship in case Vice President Rupiah Banda will not be available.
Mr. Mulongoti said various ministers are currently preparing to travel to South Africa to handover chairmanship positions in the various committees.
“As a country we are ready to handover the SADC chairmanship despite the absence of President Mwanawasa who is currently the chairman of SADC,” Mr. Mulongoti said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mulongoti has urged Zambians to prepare and embrace the SADC/ COMESA customs unions once introduced in December this year.
Mr. Mulongoti said Zambian business and the general public should not be scared of the customs union once introduced but rather they should sharpen their various skills in benefit services the facilities will offer.
He said Government is ready to support the customs union adding that other member states should do so in order to ensure success of the union in the region.
ZANIS/YK/AM/ENDS.
Labels: MIKE MULONGOTI, MWANAWASA, SADC
Read more...
AU, UN and SADC reaffirm support for Mbeki mediation in Zimbabwe
Last updated: 07/19/2008 10:59:37
THE African Union, United Nations and a grouping of 14 southern African nations have endorsed South African President Thabo Mbeki's mediation of Zimbabwe's crisis talks, Mbeki's office said on Friday. "All parties agreed with the framework proposed by President Mbeki to facilitate a solution to the challenges in Zimbabwe," the presidency said in a statement after the South African leader briefed AU, UN and SADC diplomats on the talks.
Mbeki invited the African Union and UN to join a new reference group which will liaise on his efforts to mediate a solution to Zimbabwe's crisis, a top aide said.
Speaking after Mbeki met AU commission chief Jean Ping and UN envoy Haile Menkerios in Pretoria, Sydney Mufamadi said the new group would support the president in his mission to mediate between the ruling party and opposition in Harare on behalf of the 14-nation regional bloc known as SADC.
"The special representantive of SADC (Angolan deputy foreign minister George Chikoti), the AU and the UN were briefed by President Mbeki and he invited them to constitute a reference group with the mediator on an ongoing basis," said Mufamadi who is Mbeki's right-hand man in the mediation effort.
"They will appoint people who will be based at the venue country. They will get briefings on a regular basis from the facilitator."
The UN, SADC and AU's faith in Mbeki will be a crushing blow to Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) which has been pushing for a second mediator, preferrably from the AU. The MDC ccuses Mbeki of bias -- a campaign rejected as a "fake issue" by South Africa's foreign affairs minister this week. -
Reuters/AFP
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com
Labels: AU, SADC, THABO MBEKI
Read more...
Sadc land case: Zim lawyers walk out
Herald Reporter
LAWYERS representing the Government of Zimbabwe at the Sadc Tribunal Court in Namibia in the case in which white former commercial farmers are challenging the compulsory acquisition of land for resettlement yesterday walked out of court protesting against the manner in which the proceedings were being conducted. What irked the lawyers was the reactivation of the contempt of court order against the Government of Zimbabwe that was thrown out on Wednesday by the tribunal.
The former farmers, claiming that the Government of Zimbabwe was not complying with an interim order to allow them to return to their farms granted last year, brought about the charge.
According to one of the lawyers, Advocate Martin Dinha, the tribunal reactivated the application of contempt of court that was heard after they had walked out.
"We sought to have more evidence heard from the security organs and Zanu-PF to prove that the Government of Zimbabwe was not in contempt of court, but the tribunal denied justice to the Government of Zimbabwe. They did not allow for evidence to be led from the relevant Government organs," he said.
Adv Dinha said they also wanted to prove that one Gift Moyo and other people in Mashonaland West were not assigned by the Government and that they had since been arrested for acts of violence, theft, vandalism and assault.
"We cannot legitimise the kangaroo process where rules of the court are not properly applied and manifest unfairness against our Government and its security organs by a Sadc tribunal funded by the European Union, the US and the British government," he said.
Adv Dinha said the Sadc Tribunal allowed itself to be an "instrument" of the so-called regime change agenda and to injure the sovereign interests of Zimbabwe.
He said the purpose of the contempt of court case was to have the matter referred to the Sadc summit and have the United Nations impose more sanctions on Harare.
"We will defend the interests of our country and we will not allow the Sadc Tribunal to be a football pitch where US and British interests become the soccer match," Adv Dinha.
On Wednesday, the tribunal was forced to throw out the application following a strenuous protest by the lawyers representing the 345 beneficiaries of the land reform programme.
The lawyers had insisted that the intervener application filed by the beneficiaries should be heard first before any inquiry into the alleged contempt of court by the Government of Zimbabwe.
The 345 resettled farmers who were affected by the interim order granted to white former commercial farmers by the Sadc Tribunal filed a substantive intervener application with the regional tribunal last month.
This was after 77 other white farmers had filed intervener applications that have now been consolidated against the Government to lend weight to the case brought by Michael Campbell to the tribunal.
The case opened in October last year and Campbell, the former owner of Mount Camel Farm in Chegutu, successfully obtained an interdict order blocking Government from acquiring his farm.
The tribunal on Wednesday deferred the hearing of the intervener application to a date yet to be set in September, but it heard the main application in circumstances which legal experts have described as strange and unprocedural.
The setting down of the intervener application for hearing in September means the main case is supposed to be determined after the interlocutory application.
The tribunal cannot determine the main case unless it hears the arguments and reserve its ruling — until it hears arguments from the intervener before making a proper decision.
In their application, the beneficiaries are arguing that they have a right to be heard in accordance with principles of natural justice on a matter that affects their peaceful and
lawful occupation of the farms allocated to them.
On the other hand, the farmers claim that Section 16B of the country’s constitution constitutes a breach of the rule of law and human rights and violates provisions of the Sadc Treaty.
The section states that in the event that the Minister of Lands compulsorily acquires land, the decision to acquire that land cannot be challenged in court.
Advocate Adrian de Bourbon and Advocate Jeremy Guantlet are representing the white farmers while the Deputy Attorney-General (Civil Division) Adv Prince Machaya assisted by the Director (Civil Division) Mrs Fatima Maxwell and Adv Dinha is representing the Government of Zimbabwe.
Labels: LAND REFORM, NAMIBIA, SADC
Read more...
Minister to testify in land case
Herald Reporter
THE Minister of Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, Cde Didymus Mutasa, is expected to give oral evidence before the Sadc Tribunal in Namibia during the hearing of a case in which 78 former commercial farmers are seeking to stop the compulsory acquisition of their farms for resettlement in Zimbabwe. The hearing resumes tomorrow in Windhoek.
"The Minister of State for National Security, Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, Cde Didymus Mutasa, is going to attend a hearing of land matters before a Sadc Tribunal as from July 16 to July 18 2008 in Windhoek, Namibia," an official in the ministry said in an interview yesterday.
"The Minister is expected to give oral evidence before the court which is sitting at the Supreme Court Building in Namibia to hear the matter."
According to the ministry, the matter was set down for the hearing of full and substantive arguments from both sides.
Apart from Cde Mutasa, the Zimbabwean delegation comprises Deputy Attorney-General (Civil Division) Advocate Prince Machaya, Deputy Attorney-General (Criminal Division) Mr Johaness Tomana, Advocate Martin Dinha and senior officials from the Ministry of Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement.
The hearing of the case was postponed to tomorrow by the tribunal on May 28 this year.
It also reserved judgment in an application in which more than 300 000 beneficiaries of the same land reform programme were seeking to be part of the hearing.
The tribunal deferred the case to July after granting the Zimbabwean Government’s legal team an extension to file their arguments.
The tribunal reserved judgment on an application by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Justice, a progressive grouping of Zimbabwean lawyers representing resettled farmers, who want to be part of the case as it directly affected them.
Analysts argue that it would have been awkward for the tribunal to make a ruling on a case of 78 people that would have affected more than 300 000 people and thousands more awaiting resettlement without hearing the arguments of the resettled farmers.
Labels: LAND REFORM, NAMIBIA, SADC
Read more...
MDC isn't party to Pretoria negotiations, says Tsvangirai
By Kingsley Kaswende in Harare
Saturday July 12, 2008 [04:00]
SADC-mediated negotiations between ZANU-PF and opposition MDC have reportedly commenced in South Africa but the MDC has denied being part of the talks. Negotiators from ZANU-PF and the two MDC formations are reportedly meeting in Pretoria as the political parties seek to continue the dialogue. ZANU-PF is being represented by Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Patrick Chinamasa and Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Nicholas Goche.
Prof Arthur Mutambara's MDC is being represented by secretary-general Welshman Ncube and his deputy Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga.
But MDC president Moragn Tsvangirai said his secretary general Tendai Biti went to South Africa only to present pre-conditions for the negotiation and not to negotiate.
"Over the past ten days, I and my party have stated categorically that there are no negotiations between ourselves and ZANU-PF currently taking place. In addition, we have stated that no such negotiations can take place while the ZANU-PF regime continues to wage war on my party and the people of Zimbabwe. This position has not changed," Tsvangirai stated in a press release yesterday.
"There is a meeting currently taking place in Pretoria at which the MDC is represented by secretary-general, Tendai Biti, and deputy treasurer-general, Elton Mangoma.
Their presence at this meeting is solely to present the conditions under which genuine negotiations can take place and the mechanism under which these negotiations will be conducted as defined by the AU resolution.
The lack of these conditions and an agreed framework in which negotiations can take place were the reasons for the MDC not attending the meeting between President Mbeki and Robert Mugabe last Saturday."
Tsvangirai said the people portraying this meeting as the beginning of negotiations between the MDC and ZANU-PF were being disingenuous and exploiting the plight of the Zimbabwean people for political gain.
"Portraying these talks as negotiations also undermines the resolution of the African Union, the statements made by the G8 leaders and the current process underway at the United Nations Security Council, all of which are designed to pressure the ZANU-PF regime to desist from its campaign of violence against the MDC and the people of Zimbabwe," he said.
Tsvangirai said there would be no talks until the conditions he set were met.
He said there would be no talks until there was an immediate cessation of violence and the withdrawal and disbanding of militia groups, paramilitary camps and illegal road-blocks sanctioned by ZANU-PF.
He said there would be no talks until the political environment were normalised, including the release of the more than 1,500 political prisoners, cessation of political persecution and provision of space for the MDC leadership to conduct business and travel without hindrance.
Other conditions are the reinstatement of access by humanitarian organisations to the people of Zimbabwe in order to provide food, medical and other critical services throughout the country, the swearing-in of Parliament and Senate, and the expansion of the mediation team to include an AU permanent envoy.
The G8 leaders who recently met in Japan declared that they would impose financial and other sanctions on leaders they described as "those individuals responsible for violence" in Zimbabwe.
The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States effectively rejected the government of President Mugabe saying it was illegitimate.
"We deplore the fact that the Zimbabwean authorities pressed ahead with the presidential election despite the absence of appropriate conditions for free and fair voting as a result of their systematic violence, obstruction and intimidation. We do not accept the legitimacy of any government that does not reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people," the leaders said.
Referring to the first round of elections in which Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won the most votes, they added that "it is important that any mediation process respect the results of the March 29, 2008 election."
The leaders also issued an implicit call for the SADC's mediation, led by South African President Thabo Mbeki, to be widened to include other mediators.
The G8 called on the African Union and SADC to "provide strong leadership," including taking measures aimed at "further strengthening the regional mediation process."
Labels: ELECTIONS, MDC, SADC, ZIMBABWE
Read more...
AU backs Sadc-led dialogue
From Itai Musengeyi in Cairo, Egypt
AFRICAN Union leaders on Tuesday adopted a Sadc-initiated resolution encouraging the continuation of dialogue between Government and the opposition MDC-T in the post-presidential election run-off period following what sources described as tough debate.
According to the sources, Angola — which chairs the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security — introduced the resolution at the start of the discussion of the Zimbabwean issue in a closed session and was supported by Ethiopia, Uganda, The Gambia, Swaziland, Namibia and Senegal.
"Angola introduced the resolution calling on, among other things, for the AU to support the Sadc initiative and encourage the parties (Zanu-PF and MDC-T) to engage in talks and consider an all-inclusive government," a source who attended the closed session said.
The source said after the introduction of the resolution, President Mugabe gave a report to the summit of the situation in Zimbabwe chronicling South African President Thabo Mbeki-brokered talks between Zanu-PF and the MDC-T and the achievements made so far in the dialogue.
Cde Mugabe said President Mbeki’s mediation had resulted in amendments to key laws such as POSA and AIPPA, electoral laws and a constitutional amendment jointly sponsored by Zanu-PF and the MDC-T.
"He told the summit that these were all achievements made through the facilitation of President Mbeki and pointed out that the dialogue continued even up to the March 29 harmonised elections," the source said.
The general feeling during the debate was that Zimbabweans should be allowed to solve their own problems and that Sadc, which had done well in facilitating dialogue between the major parties, should be allowed to continue with the mediation.
Although some countries such as Botswana, Liberia, Nigeria and Burundi were against the resolution, the group that supported the resolution argued strongly in favour of the Sadc-proposed resolution and backed the Zimbabwean Government.
The group that supported the Sadc resolution argued that Mr Mbeki should be allowed to continue his mediation and should be the only one to request for the inclusion of more people in the mediation if necessary.
"Following the tough debate the resolution was adopted as proposed," said the source.
The MDC-T and its Western backers were pushing for the inclusion of other mediators from the AU, presumably those who could influence the process since President Mbeki has steadfastly refused to be told how to handle the Zimbabwean issue.
President Mbeki has stood his ground, particularly against the West who have their own agenda of effecting regime change and reversing the gains of the liberation struggle, notably the land reform programme.
President Mugabe flew from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to Cairo after the summit on Tuesday night en-route to Harare.
MDC’s push for inclusion of other mediators outside Sadc has been seen as a ploy to undermine unity in the regional bloc as desired by the British and American governments in their rabid quest for an illegal regime change agenda.
The Government of Zimbabwe has always reiterated its commitment to Sadc-brokered talks and strongly believes that Sadc is the way.
Labels: AU, SADC, ZIMBABWE
Read more...
AU, SADC observers condemn Zim runoff
By George Chellah and Kingsley Kaswende in Harare, Zimbabwe
Tuesday July 01, 2008 [04:00]
AFRICAN Union and SADC election observer missions have condemned Zimbabwe's presidential election runoff, which gave President Robert Mugabe a landside victory. SADC election observer mission leader, Jose Marcos Barrica stated that the pre-election phase was characterised by politically motivated violence, intimidation and displacement.
"The process leading up to the presidential runoff elections held on 27 June, 2008 did not conform to SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections. However, the election day was peaceful," Barrica stated. "Based on the above mentioned observations, the mission is of the view that the prevailing environment impinged on the credibility of the electoral process. The elections did not represent the will of the people of Zimbabwe."
He stated that there was dissatisfaction by Zimbabweans with the manner the election was conducted.
"The mission noted that, on some spoiled ballot papers, the voters have recorded expressions like ‘God bless this country, let there be free and fair elections, No to dictatorship' and so forth, which expressed their dissatisfaction with the way the elections were conducted," he stated.
Barrica stated that there could be a viable solution to the profound problems facing Zimbabwe through dialogue amongst all political stakeholders and the people.
"The mission also pledge its support and solidarity to, and with the people of Zimbabwe and we wish them courage, strength and determination as they embark on this difficult but virtually necessary process," Barrica stated. "The mission recommends that SADC mediation efforts should be continued in order to assist the people and leadership of Zimbabwe to resolve the problems they are facing and bring the country to normalcy."
He stated that SADC should develop a mechanism on the ground in order to seize the momentum for a negotiated solution.
"The mission notes that the country needs the concerted efforts of its sons and daughters for economic-socio development and national unity," Barrica stated. "The mission regrets and wishes to express its profound sympathy to those Zimbabwean families who have lost their loved ones and their property."
And head of the AU observer mission, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who is former Sierra Leone president, said the election fell short of AU standards.
"...It is the considered view of the African Union observer mission that the election process fell short of the accepted AU standards," said Kabbah. "The African Union observer mission is however encouraged that both parties have shown willingness to engage in constructive dialogue as a way forward for ensuring peace, stability and development in Zimbabwe."
Labels: AU, ELECTIONS, SADC
Read more...
SADC ponders regional food reserves
By Joan Chirwa
Saturday June 28, 2008 [04:00]
ESTABLISHING regional food reserves can provide a solution to looming food shortages in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, the Programme Against Malnutrition (PAM) has noted. And the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives said SADC member countries have been tasked to study the establishment of regional food reserves as agreed by ministers of agriculture during the 2007 heads of state summit in Lusaka.
PAM executive director Paul Kapotwe said SADC member countries should critically look at having a regional food reserve to mitigate impacts of food shortages being experienced in some countries.
"Some countries in the region are already having food shortages while others are restricting exports of crops," Kapotwe said. "The best we can do is to have a regional food reserve which can service all member countries regardless of their production capacity in order to avoid food shortages."
And agriculture minister Ben Kapita said SADC ministers of agriculture last year held extensive discussions regarding the setting up of regional food reserves, adding that the venture needed to be carefully studied before individual countries could make decisions.
"In the first place, establishing this facility will not be cheap. We also need to decide whether we will have physical stocks or have the reserves in cash. Another problem that comes in is on the country that will host this facility.
The other problem is how to solve the genetically modified organisms (GMO) issue. Some countries in SADC accept GMO foods while Zambia's policy restricts the use of GMOs," said Kapita.
Labels: FOOD, SADC
Read more...
SADC observers to leave Zim after runoff
By George Chellah and Kingsley Kaswende in Harare, Zimbabwe
Friday June 27, 2008 [04:00]
THE SADC election observer mission will remain in Zimbabwe until after today's presidential election runoff, head of mission Jose Marcos Barrica has said. And Barrica said the mission was not bound by th
