Commonwealth News and Information Service (London)
21 April 2008
Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, who took office this month, has held talks with leaders from Southern African Development Community (SADC) to discuss issues of importance to the region and review the Commonwealth's assistance to their countries.
On 21 April 2008 Mr Sharma met Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, current chairman of SADC, a day after leaders of the regional bloc declared their commitment to working to enhance food security, economic development and political stability.
A day earlier, in the margins of a SADC summit on "poverty and development", Mr Sharma held talks with Swazi King Mswati III, South African President Thabo Mbeki, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba, Mozambique President Armando Emilio Guebuza, and Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.
He also met the Foreign Ministers of Lesotho, Malawi and Tanzania as well as the Finance Minister of Botswana.
"We in the Commonwealth look forward to working with our partners in SADC to take forward our shared objectives to eradicate poverty and promote development," Mr Sharma said.
"We also hope to learn a lot from our partners, as we already have," he added.
Mr Sharma also discussed progress on taking forward mandates agreed by leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala last year. These included how to bring political, economic and human transformation to member countries, tackle the question of environment and climate change, bring youth and gender issues to the top of the development agenda and to promote respect and understanding within societies. The emerging global crisis in food security featured prominently in his discussions.
Mr Sharma said he was committed to seeking ways in which the Commonwealth could maximise delivery of services to members -- through best use of its resources and engaging with strategic partners.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 Commonwealth News and Information Service. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
