Leaders Jet in For SADC Summit Where President Is Set to Take Over
by Sunday Mail Reporter
Aug 17, 2014
Thirteen Heads of State and Government are expected to attend the 34th Sadc Ordinary Summit which opens here today, with President Mugabe set to assume Chairmanship of the regional grouping.
Only two leaders in the 15-member bloc – Presidents Michael Sata (Zambia) and Jose Eduardo dos Santos (Angola) — will be represented by their Deputies.
President Mugabe, First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe and sons Robert Junior and Chatunga Bellarmine touched down at Victoria Falls International Airport just after 4pm.
They were accompanied by Senior Minister of State Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo, several Cabinet ministers and Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda.
Namibia’s President Hifikepunye Pohamba arrived here just before noon yesterday, a day after Swaziland Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini.
Others already in the resort town include outgoing Sadc Chairman and Malawi President Dr Peter Mutharika, Jacob Zuma (South Africa), Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas Thabane (Lesotho), Armando Guebuza (Mozambique), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), Hery Rajaonarimampianina (Madagascar) and Zambia’s Vice-President Guy Scott.
Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius, the Seychelles’ President James Alix Michel and Angolan Vice President Manuel Domingos Vincente also arrived yesterday.
Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila was expected last night, while Botswana leader Lieutenant-General Seretse Khama Ian Khama is scheduled to arrive today.
African Union Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma jetted in yesterday.
Ministers Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign Affairs), Emmerson Mnangagwa (Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs), Patrick Chinamasa (Finance and Economic Development), Mike Bimha (Industry and Commerce) and Cain Mathema (Responsible for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs) welcomed all the leaders.
According to a draft programme, Sadc Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax will give introductory remarks, after which President Mugabe will deliver his welcome statement.
Dr Dlamini Zuma is also scheduled to speak ahead of recently-elected Presidents Mutharika and Rajaonarimampianina who will deliver maiden speeches.
President Mutharika will, thereafter, present the keynote address as outgoing Chairman, and his successor, President Mugabe, will deliver his acceptance speech.
The President takes over leadership of Sadc following his election as Deputy Chairman at the 2013 Summit in Malawi.
He will lead the bloc under the theme: Sadc Strategy for Economic Transformation — Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources for Sustainable Economic and Social Development through Beneficiation and Value Addition.
The vision seeks to help steer Southern Africa towards sustainable socio-economic development on the strength of its vast natural resources. The region leads precious metal, diamond and copper production, which accounts for two-thirds of Africa’s mineral exports by value.
However, its citizens are yet to benefit significantly from these resources, 90 percent of which are being exported raw.
Minister Mumbengegwi, who is also Sadc Council of Ministers Chairman, told journalists that the Heads of State and Government will discuss the matter.
He said peace and security were also critical to regional development and will be on the Summit agenda alongside other issues such as the Draft Protocol of the Sadc Tribunal, which Sadc Justice Ministers and Attorneys-General have worked on over the months.
The leaders will also receive a narrative of southern Africa’s armed struggled against colonialism, which was produced by Brigadier-General Hashim Mbita of Tanzania, then Executive Secretary of the Organisation of African Unity’s Liberation Committee.
“We are not benefitting as a region. So, it is vital that our region focuses on this area so we add value (in order) for our resources to get higher value. For instance, Zimbabwe exports tobacco in raw form and gets 10 percent of value. If we added value, we would get tenfold. Summit will deliberate on this issue and decide the way forward.
“The nexus of economic development and peace and security is well established. You cannot have one without the other. It is, therefore, no accident that those who want to achieve regime change impose sanctions. The purpose of sanctions is to undermine an economy and lead to political and social instability.”
He went on: “Zimbabwe has experienced that, but, fortunately, the resilience of Zimbabwean people has become legendary. All our detractors cannot understand how our people could go through economic difficulties and yet maintain stability.
“That is what they ponder. The sanctions undermined our economy. So, this is what it means: If you want to disturb stability, undermine the economy. In Zimbabwe, it failed to work.”
Minister Mumbengegwi thanked President Zuma and his predecessors, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Mohlante, for ably steering Sadc mediating efforts in Zimbabwe.
President Zuma — in an interview soon after his arrival — said he was pleased the facilitation led to credible elections.
“I feel good our neighbour was able to resolve his problem and that we participated together with our brothers and sisters to try to solve the problems and it was resolved.
“So, I cannot feel otherwise, except to be happy.”
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| President Robert Mugabe and Amai Grace greet guests at the SADC Summit. |
by Sunday Mail Reporter
Aug 17, 2014
Thirteen Heads of State and Government are expected to attend the 34th Sadc Ordinary Summit which opens here today, with President Mugabe set to assume Chairmanship of the regional grouping.
Only two leaders in the 15-member bloc – Presidents Michael Sata (Zambia) and Jose Eduardo dos Santos (Angola) — will be represented by their Deputies.
President Mugabe, First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe and sons Robert Junior and Chatunga Bellarmine touched down at Victoria Falls International Airport just after 4pm.
They were accompanied by Senior Minister of State Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo, several Cabinet ministers and Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda.
Namibia’s President Hifikepunye Pohamba arrived here just before noon yesterday, a day after Swaziland Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini.
Others already in the resort town include outgoing Sadc Chairman and Malawi President Dr Peter Mutharika, Jacob Zuma (South Africa), Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas Thabane (Lesotho), Armando Guebuza (Mozambique), Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), Hery Rajaonarimampianina (Madagascar) and Zambia’s Vice-President Guy Scott.
Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius, the Seychelles’ President James Alix Michel and Angolan Vice President Manuel Domingos Vincente also arrived yesterday.
Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila was expected last night, while Botswana leader Lieutenant-General Seretse Khama Ian Khama is scheduled to arrive today.
African Union Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma jetted in yesterday.
Ministers Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (Foreign Affairs), Emmerson Mnangagwa (Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs), Patrick Chinamasa (Finance and Economic Development), Mike Bimha (Industry and Commerce) and Cain Mathema (Responsible for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs) welcomed all the leaders.
According to a draft programme, Sadc Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax will give introductory remarks, after which President Mugabe will deliver his welcome statement.
Dr Dlamini Zuma is also scheduled to speak ahead of recently-elected Presidents Mutharika and Rajaonarimampianina who will deliver maiden speeches.
President Mutharika will, thereafter, present the keynote address as outgoing Chairman, and his successor, President Mugabe, will deliver his acceptance speech.
The President takes over leadership of Sadc following his election as Deputy Chairman at the 2013 Summit in Malawi.
He will lead the bloc under the theme: Sadc Strategy for Economic Transformation — Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources for Sustainable Economic and Social Development through Beneficiation and Value Addition.
The vision seeks to help steer Southern Africa towards sustainable socio-economic development on the strength of its vast natural resources. The region leads precious metal, diamond and copper production, which accounts for two-thirds of Africa’s mineral exports by value.
However, its citizens are yet to benefit significantly from these resources, 90 percent of which are being exported raw.
Minister Mumbengegwi, who is also Sadc Council of Ministers Chairman, told journalists that the Heads of State and Government will discuss the matter.
He said peace and security were also critical to regional development and will be on the Summit agenda alongside other issues such as the Draft Protocol of the Sadc Tribunal, which Sadc Justice Ministers and Attorneys-General have worked on over the months.
The leaders will also receive a narrative of southern Africa’s armed struggled against colonialism, which was produced by Brigadier-General Hashim Mbita of Tanzania, then Executive Secretary of the Organisation of African Unity’s Liberation Committee.
“We are not benefitting as a region. So, it is vital that our region focuses on this area so we add value (in order) for our resources to get higher value. For instance, Zimbabwe exports tobacco in raw form and gets 10 percent of value. If we added value, we would get tenfold. Summit will deliberate on this issue and decide the way forward.
“The nexus of economic development and peace and security is well established. You cannot have one without the other. It is, therefore, no accident that those who want to achieve regime change impose sanctions. The purpose of sanctions is to undermine an economy and lead to political and social instability.”
He went on: “Zimbabwe has experienced that, but, fortunately, the resilience of Zimbabwean people has become legendary. All our detractors cannot understand how our people could go through economic difficulties and yet maintain stability.
“That is what they ponder. The sanctions undermined our economy. So, this is what it means: If you want to disturb stability, undermine the economy. In Zimbabwe, it failed to work.”
Minister Mumbengegwi thanked President Zuma and his predecessors, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Mohlante, for ably steering Sadc mediating efforts in Zimbabwe.
President Zuma — in an interview soon after his arrival — said he was pleased the facilitation led to credible elections.
“I feel good our neighbour was able to resolve his problem and that we participated together with our brothers and sisters to try to solve the problems and it was resolved.
“So, I cannot feel otherwise, except to be happy.”
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