Stop Armed Conflict, SADC Tells RENAMO

Zambian Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba greets Republic of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe at the SADC summit on developments in the Great Lakes., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Stop armed conflict, Sadc tells Renamo

November 6, 2013
Itai Musengeyi recently in PRETORIA, South Africa

THE joint Sadc-International Conference on the Great Lakes Region has condemned the armed activities of Renamo which recently returned to the Mozambican bush after laying down its weapons 21 years ago, and called on the group to stop its rebellious path.The conference — attended by President Mugabe and several other Heads of State and Government from Sadc and the Great Lakes region which ended in Pretoria early yesterday — was mainly meant to discuss problems in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but ended up also touching on Mozambique and the Renamo resurgence.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi told Zimbabwean journalists yesterday that the message to Renamo from the leaders was very clear that it should cease its banditry activities.

“The summit took note of the developments in Mozambique and the activities of Renamo and insisted that Renamo should forthwith stop rebellious activities,” said Minister Mumbengegwi.

On the DRC issue, Minister Mumbengegwi said the two regions, Sadc and the Great Lakes, were in full support of Kinshasa’s position against the M23 rebels.

The DRC government and the rebels have agreed to stop fighting in the eastern parts of the country, but Kinshasa has insisted that before the pact could be signed, M23 should publicly denounce its violence against the people.

“The most important point is that all the two regions are in full support of the DRC,” said Minister Mumbengegwi.

“Even those countries which have in the past taken positions (against the DRC) have now joined to support stability and the territorial integrity of the DRC.”

Minister Mumbengegwi said although the dialogue between the DRC and M23 rebels took place for long without progress, the defeat of the rebels by the DRC government, Sadc and United Nations forces should cow them and push them to peace.

In the past, the M23 rebels breached ceasefire agreements, but Minister Mumbengegwi said the heavy casualties they have suffered meant chances of regrouping were unlikely.

President Mugabe returned home yesterday morning and was welcomed by Vice President Joice Mujuru, Cabinet ministers, service chiefs and senior government officials at the Harare International Airport.