Cape Town — South Africa has offered its support to Zimbabwe’s hosting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Annual Summit this weekend, despite reluctance from the Democratic Alliance (DA).
South Africa is among 15 other countries set to attend the SADC summit and revealed it has no authority to move the event to another country, as Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, is the chairperson.
The SADC meetings have been taking place this week, with the Summit set for Saturday 17 August.
Introductory Remarks by His Excellency Mr. Elias M. Magosi, SADC Executive Secretary, at the Official Opening of the Ordinary SADC Council of Ministers Meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, 13th August 2024
Importance of the Meeting:
– Emphasized the significance of reviewing SADC’s… pic.twitter.com/N8pzgppIl6— Zimbabwe Economic Review (@ZimbabweReview) August 13, 2024
Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, said Zimbabwe was chosen as host for the summit as the incoming chair, he said on X.
“We explained that Zimbabwe is the incoming chair of SADC as elected in the previous summit. This is why they’re hosting. One member country has no authority to change that collective decision,” Monyela said.
Misleading headline. We explained that Zimbabwe is the incoming Chair of SADC as elected in the previous summit. This is why they’re hosting. One member country has no authority to change that collective decision. This is deliberate mischief. Correct this! https://t.co/uQuvi4Xepi
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) August 13, 2024
According to BusinessLIVE, Monyela said all issues can be resolved in a peaceful dialogue, and that South Africa will have no problem playing a facilitating role.
Ahead of the summit, Mnangagwa has cracked down on international critics, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and called for an end to dissent against his government.
Military vehicles are now patrolling Harare as opposition parties and human rights organisations plan to use the summit to expose government abuses, the report said.
DA’s spokesperson on international relations Emma Powell has criticised the decision to hold the summit under these conditions, arguing that it would condone Zanu-PF’s human rights violations and undermine SADC’s values.
The 44th SADC Council of Ministers opens at Mt Hampden’s New Parliament Building. Angola’s Tete Antonio hands over to Zimbabwe’s Frederick Shava. SADC’s Elias Magosi highlights regional progress and peace efforts. #SADC44 pic.twitter.com/4Q34er2FPL
— Classic263 (@classic263) August 13, 2024
Powell contended that Mnangagwa’s chairmanship reflected a failure of regional leaders to hold him accountable and believed South Africa should have insisted on relocating the summit to uphold democratic principles, said the reort.
Minister for International Relations, Ronald Lamola, will be attending the summit on behalf of South Africa. He said SA’s current foreign policy will continue under the Government of National Unity (GNU) and will also promote multilateralism for a fairer more equal, just and compassionate world, The Citizen reported.
“We are also going to make it a point that, through this department, we use economic diplomacy to address the fundamental challenges in South Africa: poverty, inequality and unemployment,” he said.
TODAY | The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola, is in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe, to participate in the meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers taking place ahead of the 44th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government. #SADC pic.twitter.com/ZXfRmY5Kqp
— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) August 13, 2024
“We have reassured everyone there will be continuity in foreign policy, aligned with the GNU vision. The parties have agreed to work together to address the nation’s most pressing challenges,” Lamola said.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@DIRCO_ZA
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
