Southern African Development Community (SADC) has resolved that elections in Zimbabwe will be held as scheduled at end of this month.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Bernard Membe
Briefing reporters after a SADC Ministerial Committee meeting on politics, defence and security cooperation that wound up, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Bernard Membe said SADC has upheld the decision of the Zimbabwe High Court that elections should take place.
He said that already SADC election observer teams have already been deployed in Zimbabwe. “I will be going to Zimbabwe to officiate the observer mission next week,” he said. He described the meeting as very successful, “We reminded members to stick to their commitments in terms of achieving SADC’s peace and security framework,” he said.
He described the current situation as, “An era of intensifying cooperation between our region and the international community,” he said. Speaking on The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) he said that the UN’s subsequent authorisation of the intervention brigade in DRC comes at an opportune time when the international community joins hands to end rebellion in the DRC.
“It remains our utmost conviction in this cooperation which is the resolute solution emanating from the SADC members,” said Mr Membe. Opening the meeting, the Minister said that the region can permanently address problems in DRC and elsewhere that have continued to derail development for a long time.”
He also said that SADC has sent a message to Madagascar that any attempt for the two leaders of Madagascar and a former first lady to contest in the upcoming elections is not acceptable. He said that Madagascar will face sanctions from the Africa Union, Indian Ocean Ream, SADC, EAC and other UN and international organisations if these leaders contest.
“SADC has sent this message through our special representative Mr Joachim Chisano former President of Mozambique to deliver the message,” said Mr Membe. He also appealed to Zimbabwe and Madagascar to honour their commitment to resolve the political standoff peacefully.
The Minister said that so far SADC has made great strides in strengthening democratic practices in the election of many countries in the region, in accordance with the guidelines governing the elections.
By JAFFAR MJASIRI, Tanzania Daily News
