1 April 2011
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday opened the Southern African Development (SADC) Troika Summit with a call to member states to uphold democratic principles and reduce tension in their respective countries.
The president said once democratic tenets were promoted and upheld, political tension occurring in some member states could be avoided.
The SADC Troika Summit was held in Livingstone with the major objective of helping to resolve some issues in the government of national unity in Zimbabwe and the crisis in Madagascar.
The leaders, who attended the meeting were President Banda, Mozambican leader Armando Guebuza, South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, and his Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
They were by Press time still locked in the meeting held at the Zambezi Sun Hotel.
“We are happy to note that our region has continued to enjoy relative peace and stability. However, we are also mindful that there are certain political tensions in our region that we must address ourselves today.
President Robert Mugabe, seen welcoming President Jacob Zuma on a past visit, is now unhappy with what his regional counterparts are saying.
“For some of these cases, we will call upon the various facilitators to present reports on their mediation efforts,” President Banda, who is the chairperson of the SADC organ on politics, defence and security cooperation, said.
He said SADC leaders should be mindful that what was happening in North Africa could happen in any member country if they failed to uphold democratic principles.
“If there is anything that we must learn from the upheavals going on in the northern part of our continent, it is that the legitimate expectations of the citizens of our countries cannot be taken for granted.
“We must, therefore, continue at the SADC level to consolidate democracy through the establishment of institutions that uphold the tenets of good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law.
“We must also uphold the various international laws and conventions under the African Union and the United Nations that we are parties to,” Mr Banda said.The president said the summit should discuss major peace and security issues affecting the region.
He said some matters to be tabled at the summit would require decisive action. The summit would also focus on addressing some issues related to political and security situation in some countries.
“We are also happy to note that our region has continued to witness the consolidation of democracy through the operationalisation of various democratic institutions such as the SADC electoral advisory council as well as the frequent holding of free and fair general elections.
“I wish, therefore, to call upon the SADC Troika to bring to life mechanisms such as the SADC Electoral Advisory Council, SADC mediation reference group and the panel of elders, whose establishment was approved at the Windhoek summit in August 2010,” President Banda said.
He said it was important for SADC to be responsible and be able to resolve problems in the region.
The Mozambican president, Mr Guebuza arrived at Livingstone International Airport at 09:35 hours while Mr Tsvangirai arrived at 12:21 hours.Both leaders were received by Southern Province Permanent Secretary Gladys Kristafor, service chiefs and other Government officials.
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Uphold Democracy, President Urges Region