THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) extraordinary summit of heads of State and Government has mandated President Banda and former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to seek an end to the political crisis in Madagascar.
President Banda will take the responsibility in his capacity as Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation. Mr Chissano is the SADC mediator on Madagascar.
The two have been tasked to quickly convene the meeting at the SADC headquarters in Gaborone.
In a communiqué read by SADC executive secretary Tomaz Salomao at the end of the one-day summit here on Friday, the SADC members reiterated the need for an all-inclusive political process of reconciliation and finding a lasting solution for that country.
Dr Salamao said the SADC leaders also commended Mr Chissano for his efforts in bringing together the Madagascar stakeholders in the reconciliation process.
Madagascar is in a political crisis following an uprising that toppled the democratically elected President, Marc Ravalomanana, who is currently exiled in South Africa.
The country is now being managed by a caretaker government, the High Transitional Authority (HAT), headed by 36-year-old Andry Rajoelina whose government the international community, including SADC, do not recognise.
President Banda has said SADC is determined to ensure that constitutional normalcy and a favourable political atmosphere return to Madagascar.
Commenting on the mandate, President Banda said the Indian Ocean Island has gone through a lot of challenging political situations, which needed to be resolved.
“Madagascar is a sad and complex case due to its distance from the rest of the SADC countries but we are determined to see the return of peace in that country so that it can also experience the normalcy we are all enjoying,” he said.
He said the Gaborone meeting has been slated for June 5, 2011.
President Banda said the extra-ordinary summit was important and critical.
President Banda told ZANIS in an interview in Windhoek shortly before departure for Lusaka yesterday that the summit, which was the first of its kind to be devoted to economic issues in the region, showed the maturity of the regional body, which had predominantly been meeting to discuss political issues.
“I am happy that we were meeting especially to review what we went through as a result of the global financial crisis and I am sure you will agree with me that many countries were affected,” he said.
President Banda said that it was pleasing that many countries, including Zambia, emerged stronger and have learnt to diversify their economies.
And President Banda says Zambia stands to benefit a lot from the proposed economic integration of the economies of SADC, COMESA and the East African Community through the Tripartite Free Trade Area because of the central geographical location.
“As Zambia, we are seeing the results of integration through various economic activities in all our border towns. We have activities on the Angolan border for example, as well as in other areas,” he said.
President Banda said the MMD government is determined to ensure that all possible routes leading to other countries are quickly worked on to maximise Zambia’s benefits from the regional economic advancements.
President Banda returned yesterday.
Meanwhile, the summit could not deal with the political situation in Zimbabwe because of the absence of the SADC mediator for Zimbabwe, President Jacob Zuma.
Dr Salamao said that President Zuma could not attend the summit because of on-going elections in South Africa. He said President Zuma wrote to the SADC secretariat explaining his absence.
“This situation prompted the summit and the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation to defer the matter to a later date not later than 12th June this year,” he said.
ZANIS
RB is very hardworking and this task is so simple for him to handle..SADC has faith in u to end the political crisis in Madagascar Mr president. show them what u r capable of doing and soon u ll be Dr RB..Congrats.
Do these people know Rupiah?
Some more useless globe trotting destinations springing up yet again. You also have to leave it to SADC to make such f’oo’lish decisions, how can you appoint a president who is leaving power in barely four months to such a position? These chaps are not serious at all. Besides, I do not think there is a solution to the Madagascar saga, if they opt for an under 5 as their president, its their on peril to contend with and not our damn concern to start poking our noses into.
I wonder what kind of solutions RB will offer to madagasgar when he has failed to bring sanity at home. Does SADC know RB? I doubt because the man is a joker. I feel for Madagasgar. I would rather they solve their problems than engaging the likes of RB? This shows how poor Africa is in terms of political leadership!!!!!
Democracy is one word we have come to like in Africa. But the question is: “what really is democracy?” Is the current form of “democracy” the best way that Africa should be governed?
SADC is not looking at RB as an individual, but asking Zambia to help in finding the solution.
No need to try anticipating what will happen.