Mbanane — President Kgalema Motlanthe will later this morning chair the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, to discuss the economic recovery plan for Zimbabwe, as well as the political and security situation in Madagascar.
Leaders of the 15-member SADC are holding this special summit in Ezulwini, outside Swaziland's capital Mbanane, one week after Madagascar's opposition-leader Andry Rajoelina took over the government in a military-backed transfer of power. "The SADC summit is expected to deliberate upon proposals to assist Madagasacar to return to democracy, the rule of law and constitutionality," said the Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, adding that the crisis in Madagascar would be high on Monday's agenda. This followed the resignation of then-President Marc Ravalomanana after weeks of strikes and demonstrations in which more than 100 people died.
During the meeting, the SADC Troika on politics, defence and security; as well as a report on the recent visit by SADC Executive Secretary Dr Tomaz Salomao to Madagascar will be presented.
On Zimbabwe, the summit is expected to present a proposal to the Heads of State and government on the economic recovery plan for that country.
The proposal is based on recommendations by SADC finance ministers on how to help Zimbabwe extricate itself from its current economic challenges. President Robert Mugabe will be attending the summit accompanied by Zimbabwe Finance Minister Tendai Biti.
In February, the SADC agreed to seek donor help to rebuild Zimbabwe's ruined economy, putting the initial need at $2 billion.
Today, SADC countries are likely to further urge Western states to remove sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. A new unity government formed by Mr Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai has given Zimbabweans hope of economic recovery.
However, Western powers, which accuse Mr Mugabe of human rights abuses and election rigging, are reluctant to pour in aid while he remains Head of State which makes it difficult for the country to recover.
The summit is expected to end later today.
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A hopeless chir!
One should not expect anything good coming out of the meeting, except propping up illegitimate leaders in the SADC region. What can one expect from RSA when the Dalai Lama is denied a visa to visit the apartheid-free country that he so much fought for also?
Will SADC raise funds for Mugabe to loot again? Will SADC try to rahabiliate former President of Madagascar, known for being the 20% President?
When will SADC honour the wish of the majority of its citizens that we should do away with criminals, assassins, pariah leaders, those clinging to power illegitimately?
People and NGOs in the SADC region should reorganise to increase to its maximum pressure on leaders who can still be amenable to support meaningful change.
Predictable. All rhodies hope that Zimbabwe sinks.
Accordingly, rhodies, whose opinions are useless and comical to us, would always find clouds in a sunlit sky.
Rhodies are depressives.
Do you think the 4 million Zimbabwens who have left Zimbabwe see a sunlit sky behind them? What about the 20,000 murdered by Mugabe in the 80's?
How about comparing apples and oranges?
Another Jellyist Boobism! I swear, I don't know how you come up with these irrelevant little bon mots!
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