Elias Mbao
4 June 2011
Lusaka — An emissary of ousted Madagascar leader Marc Ravalomanana has conveyed the ex-ruler’s commitment to abide by the outcome of Sunday’s SADC talks meant to unlock the political crisis in the Indian Ocean island.
Mr Ravalomanana was toppled in 2009 by disc jockey-cum-politician Andry Rajoelina in an army-backed coup following weeks of anti-government protests.
Zambia’s Foreign Affairs minister Kabinga Pande confirmed that he met Mr Ravalomanana’s envoy in Lusaka.
“Ravalomanana’s envoy came to support the meeting we are holding in Botswana to discuss the political situation in Madagascar.
“The envoy came to encourage us about the stand that Zambia has taken,” said Mr Pande. However, he did not name the emissary.
Mr Ravalomanana, 61, currently on self-imposed exile in South Africa, faces a four-year jail term passed against him in absentia for alleged abuse of office.
The 15-member regional bloc, Southern African Development Community (SADC), heads of state summit last month mandated Zambia’s President Rupiah Banda and Mozambique’s ex-president Joaquim Chissano to convene a meeting of rival stakeholders in Madagascar.
Double standards
After Mr Rajoelina accused SADC of applying double standards and rubbished Sunday’s meeting in Botswana, President Banda warned the 36-year-old leader and his rivals against “wasting our time”.
President Banda, who also chairs the SADC organ on politics, defence and security, said the Gaborone meeting would give Madagascar stakeholders a chance to “to talk to each since they don’t talk to each other”.
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