Sadc summit deals anti-Zim bid a blow
. . . region trains focus on situation in DRC
ZIMBABWE did not come up for discussion at the SADC Extraordinary Summit held here yesterday, where regional leaders expressed concern over the humanitarian and security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), President Mnangagwa has said.
The summit took the opportunity to provide strategic guidance on the deployment of the SADC Mission to restore peace in the eastern part of DRC, where 600 000 people have been reportedly displaced since violence broke out in the last two years.
In an interview at the end of the summit, President Mnangagwa said the discussions had been fruitful.
Asked if Zimbabwe came up for discussion, he said: “These things happen in society; not everybody is a priest, so you find these things happening. But we are so alert that we were going to deal with the things that are relevant to the summit which was called for. This (was an) Extraordinary Summit, which means there was a particular subject we were going to discuss.”
The agenda of yesterday’s meeting puts paid to the narrative peddled by political activists that Zimbabwe’s August 23-24 elections would be on the agenda.
The summit, which started late afternoon, was officially opened by SADC chairperson and Angolan President João Lourenço.
Regional leaders raised concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC, where the resumption of attacks and occupation of territory by the insurgent M23 rebels was considered a clear violation of the ceasefire.
The summit then provided strategic guidance on the deployment of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC) to restore peace and security.
Reading out the communiqué at the end of the meeting, SADC executive secretary
THE Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC) and the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) last week signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration in supporting the implementation of regional programmes.
The MOU was signed by SARDC executive director Mr Munetsi Madakufamba and SADC PF secretary-general Ms Boemo Sekgoma on the sidelines of the 26th SARDC board meeting in Windhoek, Namibia.
In his remarks after signing the MoU, Mr Madakufamba said formalisation of the long-standing co-operation between SARDC and SADC PF was crucial in assisting member states with implementation of decisions made by the SADC summit and other regional structures.
“There are a lot of policies that have been put in place. We are talking about no less than 30 SADC protocols that have been adopted in various areas and parliaments play an important role in making sure that those protocols are aligned with national policies and laws,” said Mr Madakufamba.
“As the SARDC, we package these policies in a manner that can be understood by the broader public and, in the process, make it easier for member states to identify areas that require action on their part.”
Ms Sekgoma said the agreement will assist SADC PF with documenting and profiling the role of parliaments in facilitating regional integration and documenting citizen engagement processes of participatory democracy.
“We have been having these public hearings with no insightful documentation on the various regions of SADC,” said Ms Sekgoma.
She said the lack of up-to-date documentation has resulted in gaps in knowledge about how, for instance, regional integration issues are perceived in various countries.
SARDC board chairperson, Professor Peter Katjavivi described the MoU as the beginning of “an exciting journey of partners as we pursue the agenda for development of our region.”
“We are embarking upon something very exciting. It’s a journey of partnership between the work that we do as a regional research body or think tank and working with you as leaders of our various national parliaments, coordinated by you at the secretariat level,” said Prof Katjavivi.
Signing of the MOU came at a time SADC PF is being transformed into the SADC Regional Parliament, following approval of the change by the 41st SADC Summit held in Malawi in 2021.