THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states have been reminded of their responsibility to work together to end the security challenges facing Cabo Delgado State in Mozambique and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

 

This reminder was made by the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, who is also the President of Zambia, Hon. Hakainde Hichelema, at the opening of the Tripartite Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the two SADC Community Organizations, which concluded in Lusaka, Zambia, on 23/24 March.

The meeting, at which Tanzania was represented by the Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Philip Isdor, aimed, among other things, to assess the security situation in the SADC region. It was noted that the security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo was still not satisfactory and therefore a call was made to member states and development partners to provide resources to enable the peacekeeping forces that are there and others that will be deployed to do their job properly.

It was noted that the issue of seeking peace in the region is a treaty issue of the Community and the Protocol of the Organisation of Politics, Defence and Security, so it is the duty of these nations to unite to face the security challenges.

Analysts said the good attendance of heads of state at the presidential, vice-presidential and prime ministerial levels at the meeting showed that SADC countries were determined to find a lasting solution to the security challenge in Mozambique and the DRC.

The Presidents who attended the meeting were Hakainde Hichelema of Zambia, Emmerson Mnangwa of Zimbabwe, Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC, Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi, Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and João Lourenço of Angola. Tanzania and Namibia were represented by the Vice-President, Lesotho by the Prime Minister and South Africa and Botswana by the Ministers of Defence.

Tanzania Media