Former President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, with President Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Mugabe visited Namibia for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in August 2009.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
By Farirai Machivenyika
Zimbabwe Herald
Next week’s 30th Sadc Summit in Namibia should focus on preserving the gains of the inclusive Government and the removal of illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe to help economic turnaround efforts, observers have said.
There have been attempts in recent weeks by the private media and civic society to create the impression that the meeting is an extraordinary summit on Zimbabwe, which will be used to rap President Mugabe for allegedly working against the letter and spirit of the Global Political Agreement.
The Heads of State and Government’s summit, which will be on Monday and Tuesday, will be preceded by a meeting of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security on Sunday.
Political analyst and Tsholotsho North legislator Professor Jonathan Moyo yesterday said the summit, as an annual forum, would discuss matters affecting the whole region.
"This is a regional annual summit and it will take a malicious person to say that it is convened to focus on one country.
"When there is an issue warranting focus on one country then an extraordinary summit will be convened.
"Sadc is the midwife to the birth of the inclusive Government and naturally as the body that played a pivotal role to its successful formation, they will be interested in its progress," said Prof Moyo.
He said there was nothing wrong in Zimbabwe being on the agenda of the summit.
"In the past, it was about problems in Zimbabwe but now it is about progress.
"There are some people who always think that being on the agenda is something negative and we do not want to waste time on such people.
"Things are working in Zimbabwe and it is coming against the background of the country selling its diamonds a few days ago, so there will certainly be reference to Zimbabwe, but it will be about progress," he said.
Zimbabwe Revolutionary Volunteers’ Front chair and political analyst Mr Godwine Mureriwa echoed the same sentiments.
"Rather than put unnecessary pressure on Zimbabwe, Sadc will be more interested in upholding what the inclusive Government has achieved and not to be diverted by what is written and said by reactionaries.
"That Zimbabwe will be discussed is of little consequence because as its baby, Sadc will naturally have an interest in developments here," he said.
Mr Mureriwa urged Sadc to reiterate its call for the immediate removal of the illegal sanctions as they were retarding economic development.
"The only real outstanding issue is that of illegal sanctions and they pose the single largest threat to the inclusive Government’s existence.
"They should be removed forthwith and one hopes Sadc will make that call and make it unequivocally," he said.
The chair of the University of Zimbabwe Department of Politics and Administration, Dr Joseph Kurebwa, said the continued existence of sanctions targeting one party in the inclusive Government should be of concern to Sadc.
"If Zimbabwe is on the agenda, it is not something to worry about. I do not see any issues that will be discussed that will have a negative bearing on Zimbabwe.
"What will be of concern are the sanctions and threat of new ones on one party in Government.
"These can be viewed as designed to weaken that party and its role in Government and that should be of concern to Sadc," he said.
Dr Kurebwa said Sadc would likely review progress made, especially improvements in the economic and political situation.
South African President Jacob Zuma, the Sadc-appointed facilitator in Zimbabwe’s political dialogue, has already indicated that he will tell the summit that the country is "on the correct path".
South Africa Foreign Ministry director-general Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba told a Press conference in Pretoria on Wednesday that President Zuma would not let the summit become a talk shop on Zimbabwe.
"He will recognise that the task in Zimbabwe is not completed, but the overwhelming picture is favourable. There is a semblance of stability and Zimbabwe is on the correct path," Dr Nsaluba said.
Sections of the local and international media have in the past week been saying the so-called outstanding issues on the implementation of the GPA will top summit proceedings.
The security situation in the DRC, Lesotho and Madagascar will also be discussed.
Matters related to regional integration through the adoption of various recommendations expected from the body’s structures and taskforce are on the agenda as are other issues to do with infrastructure development and the free movement of people and goods across borders.
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