SADC meets over Zimbabwe crisis

November 16, 2017
| Report Focus News

THE Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), His Excellency President Jacob Zuma of South Africa has called for a meeting to discuss the unfolding political and security situation in Zimbabwe.

The meeting will be held on the 16th November 2017 at 15.00hrs, at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana.

This is according to a statement issued by the Communication and Public Relations Unit of SADC Secretariat.

The meeting will be attended by the Ministers responsible for Foreign or External Affairs from the SADC Organ Troika Member States, namely: Republic of Angola, United Republic of Tanzania and Republic of Zambia, plus the SADC Council Chairperson who is the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation for South Africa.

Earlier, President Zuma assured the SADC region that his Zimbabwean counterpart was safe but on house arrest.

“I spoke to comrade Mugabe on phone and he assured me he was safe but on house arrest,” Zuma says.

President Zuma, on behalf of SADC, has noted with great concern the unfolding political situation in the Republic of Zimbabwe.

President Zuma has called for calm and restraint and has expressed hope that developments in Zimbabwe would not lead to unconstitutional changes of Government as that would be contrary to both SADC and African Union positions.

 The President has urged the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Defence Force to resolve the political impasse amicably and has urged the Zimbabwean Defence Force to ensure that the maintenance of peace and security in the country is not compromised.

 SADC will continue to closely monitor the situation and remains ready to assist where necessary to resolve the political impasse in keeping with established SADC Protocols and processes.

SADC is an organisation of 16 Member States established in 1980.

The mission of SADC is to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and socio-economic development through efficient, productive systems, deeper cooperation and integration, good governance and durable peace and security; so that the region emerges as a competitive and effective player in international relations and the world economy.