Thursday, March 28, 2024

Mbeki jets in for the extra-ordinary SADC Summit

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South African President Thabo Mbeki has arrived in Lusaka, Zambia for this afternoon’s extra-ordinary summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders to discuss the post-election crisis in Zimbabwe.

President Mbeki, who has led mediation efforts between the two Zimbabwean sides since last year through the “quiet diplomacy” approach, arrived at Lusaka International at 14:05 hours on board a South African Air Force plane.

He was received by Commerce, Trade and Industry minister Felix Mutati and other senior government officials.

In route to Lusaka, President Mbeki made a stopover in Zimbabwe where he met with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Despite growing tensions, Mr Mbeki is alleged to have maintained that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe.

Earlier, Mozambican President Armando Guebuza arrived in Lusaka for the extra-ordinary summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders to discuss the post-election crisis in Zimbabwe has risen to five.

President Guebuza’s presidential plane touched down at Lusaka International Airport at 13:15 hours and was received by Agriculture and Cooperatives minister Sarah Sayifwanda.

He followed President of Angola Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS who arrived at about 13:00 hours and was received by Transport and Communications Minister Dora Siliya.

Others that have arrived include President of Botswana Lieutenant General Seretse Ian Khama. Lieutenant General Seretse Ian Khama arrived in the country at Lusaka International Airport at 08:30 hours.

He was received by Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja, Lusaka Province Minister Lameck Mangani, Lands minister Bradford Machila, Information Deputy Minister David Phiri and other senior government officials

This marks the first assignment that the Botswana leader is undertaking after he replaced President Festus Mogae who stepped down one year before the end of his term. Mr. Mogae had served 10 years as head of state, the maximum allowed by law.
Botswana’s new president is a former army commander and lieutenant-general who entered politics 10 years ago, after leaving the military.

He was elected to parliament in 1998. He moved quickly up through the hierarchy, first as minister of presidential affairs and public administration and subsequently as vice president and party chairman.

He was followed by Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila whose presidential plane touched down at Lusaka International Airport at 11: 30 hours.

The DRC leader was received by Labour and Social Security Minister Ronald Mukuma, Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja, Lusaka Province Minister Lameck Mangani, Lands minister Bradford Machila, Information Deputy Minister David Phiri and other senior government officials

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika and Namibia’s Hifikepunye Pohamba have also since arrived.

The duo who arrived separately between 11:40 hours and 12:00 hours were received by Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja and other senior government officials.

Meanwhile it is believed that Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai has arrived in the country for the extra-ordinary summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) to discuss the post-election crisis in Zimbabwe.

Airport sources told ZANIS that the MDC leader arrived around mid day, away from the eyes of the press, shortly after the arrival of the Botswana leader aboard a private plane and was immediately whisked away.

Lusaka International Airport is a hive of activities as Zambia is today hosting an extra-ordinary summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders to discuss the post-election crisis in Zimbabwe.

Members of the 14-member regional grouping are meeting in Lusaka to discuss Zimbabwe’s post-election impasse. The summit comes amid growing pressure on that country’s electoral commission to release the results of the presidential poll held two weeks ago.

The SADC is expected to debate on ways and means of assisting the people of Zimbabwe over the current impasse, following the 29 March elections, as well as adopt a coordinated approach to the situation in that country.

United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has since congratulated President Mwanawasa, the SADC chair, and SADC for the move to convene the extra-ordinary summit of the regional grouping to discuss the post-election crisis in Zimbabwe.

The UN chief has described the convening of the summit as a timely initiative to help Zimbabwe overcome its post-electoral crisis through peaceful means.

“The secretary-general is concerned that the situation in Zimbabwe could deteriorate if there is no prompt action to resolve this impasse,” UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe has said.

Mr Ban Ki-moon’s predecessor, Kofi Annan, has also called for the SADC leaders to push for a peaceful and just solution to the impasse in Zimbabwe.

Mr. Annan has said SADC leaders have a grave responsibility to act and act not only because of the negative spillover effects on the region, but also to ensure that democracy, human rights and the rule of law are respected.

He warned that Zimbabwe was standing on the brink.

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Morgan Tsvangirai has been touring southern African countries, urging leaders to put pressure on Mr. Mugabe to step down.

He says he won the vote outright and has refused to take part in any second, run-off presidential poll with Mr. Mugabe.

In the parliamentary vote also held on 29 March, Mr Mugabe’s Zanu-PF lost its majority in the House of Assembly for the first time since independence.

Mr. Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980.

40 COMMENTS

  1. Pragmatist, why should anyone treat Mugabe with diplomacy when he disrespects the rights of his own people? Why should protocol be observed for such a leader? THis thing is not about the US or UK, its about a dictator whose time has come to retire. How can an intelligent mind like yours be tricked into thinking Mugabe’s a true freedom fighter? The only dictator worth respecting is Gadafi…he never terrorizes his own people, and equally protects diasporees like many on this blog. LPM’s initiative should be supported by every liberal thinker who cares about ordinary folk. Mugabe’s presence is not necessary for SADC to come out with a resolution on this matter. The man’s not gona be forever.

  2. Fellow africans,

    Lets be careful with these foreign concepts trashed on our mouth.We have misunderstood Democracy.

    Look at Kenya, a poor country with limited natural resources being forced in a weird 50-50 power sharing concept leading to a blotted coalition Government of 40 plus cabinet ministers. This is a concept never seen even in the USA following the 2000 elections when El gore won the popular vote clearly despite all their wealth. Such concepts are only coined for Africa as a testing ground.

  3. Which governments in the world share power without any shared value?

    Can someone point to any country in the world where there are two heads as being imposed in Kenya and many countries to face it?

    Trust me folks, this is “skewed logic” we are seeing on our watches imposed on Africa when we are the owners of the resources the bourgeois want to protect and exploit with impunity under some stooge. Can Britain and the U.S show us models of countries that have implemented 50-50 and it has worked?

  4. I would not be surprised to hear the results released before the resolutions of the SADC summit are known. Mugabe want to save face , whichever way the Summit has put pressure on him. It is only this time that I support Sanctions on Mugabe. I propose Zed to impose silent sanctions on Zimbabwe govt. No more power export. No more using their roads and reroute to Botswana and Namibia.

  5. How can Bob not be at the extra ordinary summit where this issue is to be solved once and for all. Nothing lasts forever except Diamonds.

  6. Pragmatist, I really don’t think it is a question of “Which governments in the world share power without any shared value”?The situation in Zim is desperate no matter how you look at.We need urgent solutions to this problem.The whole purpose of holding a competitive election is to gauge yourself, as a candidate,your popularity against others.An election has to be followed with results.People have the right to have their wishes known.We cannot progress if we distance reality from our analyses.The Zim situation is one which requires a sizable amount of force,even sanctions, to show Bob but we are not interested in dictatorships.In 1991,Zambians loudly told KK that his days were over.

  7. Cont’d
    African leaders become so drunk with power that they forget about the wellbeing of the people they are supposed to be leading.Why should it take crisis talks to resolve a straightforward issue.ZANU-PF cannot request a run-off in the absence of people knowing the actual results.if you wrote an exam and did not receive your results,would you accept anyone asking you to retake the exam because they think/assume that you had failed?Let’s try to use logic in some of these situations.The people have outrightly rejected ZANU-PF leadership and that should be respected for the sake of progress.Why even blame US or UK for our own problems.

  8. Why should people always rush to blame the West for Africa’s problems? It is the greedy African leaders who must be grilled. In Kenya, Kibaki refused to leave after being defeated and thousands of people died with many more being displaced. Can you blame the West for that? In Zim the same thing is likely to happen, Mugabe loses and starts arresting people. This has nothing to do with UK. Tabo Mbeki’s cowardice will bring a great crisis in Zim. He seems to believe whatever Mugabe says. Mbeki keeps saying there is no crisis in Zim. He’s probably waiting for thousands to die before he can think of intervening.

  9. O dear Lord the God of heaven & earth. Kindly let SADC reason & vote that Mugabe be relieved of his wamuyayaya syndrome! The people of zim have suffered enough through his tyranic rule, We pray that everything GO according to Your wishes,in Jesus’ name, AMEN, AMEN, AMEN !!!!

  10. Mbeki has failed SADC.He probably is taking lessons from Bob on how to deal with Zuma when SA holds elections.How else can one explain his failure to see the crisis in Zimbabwe.At least when he lost to Zuma he was informed withput undue delay.Can’nt he pass on the lesson to Old Bob?

  11. Mbeki’s is claiming there is no crisis in zim i think he is waiting 4 blood shed in that country. I think they will be divisions after this summit coz some leaders like Mbezi seem to be on Mugabe’s side, he even landed in zim b4 going to zed i guess to reasure mugabe that he was there 4 him during the summit shame!

  12. I propose sanctions against Zimbabwe if Mugabe does not budge. SADC Countries should stop exporting power to Zimbabwe as well as stop exporting Maize and other stuff. No more using Zimbabwe as a trade route to South Africa but rather using Botswana and Namibia. Make Zimbabwe a NO FLY ZONE. ETC

  13. How ironic that Levy QC forgets precedent, particularly as a similar situation obtained in Mozambique but the then Sadc chair did not fret over the issue. Levy’s summit, for that is exactly what it will be, should it go ahead, comes as a surprise particularly as no summit was called to discuss Mozambique when presidential election results in that country were delayed by two weeks in 1999 with the National Election Commission battling logistical problems.

  14. Lessons from Maputo

    Mozambique’s second multi-party elections produced such a close contest that election officials were forced to announce the winners a whole fortnight after polling stations closed as close contests naturally demand intense verification.

    Just like in Zimbabwe, the close outcome left the opposition Renamo frustrated and threatening to lodge a series of complaints in the Supreme Court.

  15. Renamo threatened to make Mozambique ungovernable if Chissano was endorsed ahead of Dhlakama.

    In the end Chissano and Frelimo won 133 seats, while Renamo weighed in with 117 in the 250-seat Assembly. Chissano had 52,29 percent of the vote against Dhlakama’s 47,71 percent.

  16. A bitter Dhlakama dismissed the results as a “democratic farce” threatening to create ‘‘difficult conditions’’ for Mozambique, which was taken to be a euphemism for a return to war. But the then Sadc chair did not call a summit as it was appreciated that election systems by nature involve complex counting. And in Mozambique the system left voters, citizens, diplomats, observers and the media increasingly tense as rumours flew about Maputo fuelling charges and counter-charges of vote manipulation amid a torrent of threats from Renamo.

    Finally on December 22, the National Electoral Commission announced the results saying it had taken its time recording the initial vote counts as it could n

  17. contd.
    Finally on December 22, the National Electoral Commission announced the results saying it had taken its time recording the initial vote counts as it could not be rushed or tied down by regulations.

  18. Renamo meanwhile had capitalised on the delays by holding daily Press conferences where it insisted it was winning in six of the country’s 11 provinces. Any parallels with Zimbabwe, Levy? Renamo’s figures, of course, were were dutifully picked by some local and Western media and non-governmental organisations to a point where Renamo declared itself the winner before the CNE had made even preliminary announcements.

  19. ba #24 annonymous na ba #27 Ukunanalisa
    How many people should die of hunger for you guys to finally admit there is a problem in Zimbabwe. How many people should be left jobless for you guys to admit theres a problem in Zimbabwe. How many people should cross borders illegally for you guys to admit theres a problem in Zimbabwe. How many prostitutes must be in the streets of livingstone for you guys to admit theres a problem. How many people should be beaten for speaking up in Harare for you guys to admit theres a problem in Zimbabwe. How high must the inflation rate be. You guys want 95% unemployment, 7 million illegal immigrants in South Africa, 1,000,000% INFLATION.

  20. cont..
    Will that do it for you guys. Maybe higher. Or maybe you want violence to break out first like Kenya then you can act. You guys are cold.

  21. I commend President Levy Mwanawasa for leading the way in calling for the urgent SADC summit to discuss the Zimbabwe fiasco and ongoing crisis. So far the Zambian President has shown that he does not have to tag along with the criminal of Zimbabwe (Bob Mugabe). The other person who has openly criticized Mugabe is the ANC Party President Jacob Zuma. Hats off to these two galant men. If SADC had more men like these two the situation would have been different. It’s a shame to see Thabo Mbeki come out looking scared of Mugabe saying there is no crisis in Zimbabwe. What does he have to benefit from the crisis? The longer this crisis persists, more Zimbabwean will flock to SA.

  22. Mugabe knows that he is old and pushing his death. He is such a selfish individual that he wants to take as many people to his grave as can. He is 84 years old and probably knows he is in hia last days. What his ill-motives are his actions are despeakable and repugnant to say the least. He may now be worse that the late Idi Amini of Uganda. With his devilish act one may even go further and liken him to Adolph Hitler. Africa is tired of dicatorship. At this pont in time efforts must at all cost be spent on developing those fledgling African economies and reduce poverty and disease. In view of the foregoing, Mubabe is the worst HIV/AIDS and cancer that has ever afflicted Africa.

  23. The zimbabwe isues has to do with te people themelves. How on earth can they vote for a person who has starved them? Vote decisively as zambians did in 1991. Mbeki as I said fears BOb and he is useless, no wonder he lost to Zuma.

  24. #32 isn’t this common among africans? Selfish, self centered, stupid name it is all in abundance in africa!

  25. There is no crisis in Zimbabwe. Land is intact, in citizen’s hands. South Africa is scared of the future when time runs out and the Blacks start screaming for land. Mugabe has become a hero since he has not given away land. If the current citizens of Zimbabwe cannot be able to use the land, fine. Future generations will probably have better brains and put their land to good use. Should the land be lost to foreigners, just look at other nations where settlers got land..the indignious people lost out for good. This is why Zambians must take out the mmd for dispossessing land from citizens and giving it to foreigners.

  26. President Mugabe is a hero. There is no doubt about that. However, it is time for hime to go like many other leaders. Bye bye President Mugabe and welcome President Tsvangirai.

  27. Anonymous(36),
    Tsvangirai like Sata will never be republican head unless you are talking of leadership in between your mother’s legs.

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