News / Africa
32nd SADC Summit opens in Maputo
17 Aug 2012 at 18:38hrs | Views
The 32nd Ordinary Summit of the SADC Heads of State and Governments has been officially opened in Maputo, Mozambique, with the outgoing SADC chair, Angola, handing over the SADC badge to the incoming chairperson, Amando Guebuza of Mozambique.
Host President, Mr Guebuza officially opened the summit and pledged his country's commitment to consolidate the gains and objectives of the regional bloc.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Robert Mugabe is also attending the summit.
Lesotho's new Prime Minister, Thomas Thabani castigated European Union countries for imposing illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe.
He told SADC leaders that there is significant progress in the implementation of the GPA in Zimbabwe.
Mr Thabani said there is need for the regional bloc to join hands with Zimbabwe's quest to fully implement the agreement without outside interference.
He also saluted President Mugabe, whom he described as a fatherly figure in SADC.
The summit also saw new Zambian President, Mr Michael Sata and Malawian President, Joyce Banda giving their maiden speeches where they pledged allegiance to SADC.
The first SADC candidate to be elected chair of African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, commended SADC heads of state and government for their support leading to her election.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has left the SADC Council of Ministers of Justice and Attorney Generals divided as it blocked an attempt by some countries to revive the SADC Tribunal Court which was disbanded two years ago.
The Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Patrick Chinamasa told journalists in Maputo that Zimbabwe's representatives to the summit indicated their reservations after several members of the SADC Council of Ministers attempted to undermine the position taken by the summit to draft a new protocol that will replace the disbanded Tribunal.
Chinamasa said the SADC Council of Ministers was left divided as other countries backed Zimbabwe while others differed.
He said two documents will now be subject for debate at the on-going SADC summit as Zimbabwe produced its document separate from that of the Council of Ministers.
Host President, Mr Guebuza officially opened the summit and pledged his country's commitment to consolidate the gains and objectives of the regional bloc.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Robert Mugabe is also attending the summit.
Lesotho's new Prime Minister, Thomas Thabani castigated European Union countries for imposing illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe.
He told SADC leaders that there is significant progress in the implementation of the GPA in Zimbabwe.
Mr Thabani said there is need for the regional bloc to join hands with Zimbabwe's quest to fully implement the agreement without outside interference.
He also saluted President Mugabe, whom he described as a fatherly figure in SADC.
The summit also saw new Zambian President, Mr Michael Sata and Malawian President, Joyce Banda giving their maiden speeches where they pledged allegiance to SADC.
The first SADC candidate to be elected chair of African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, commended SADC heads of state and government for their support leading to her election.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has left the SADC Council of Ministers of Justice and Attorney Generals divided as it blocked an attempt by some countries to revive the SADC Tribunal Court which was disbanded two years ago.
The Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Patrick Chinamasa told journalists in Maputo that Zimbabwe's representatives to the summit indicated their reservations after several members of the SADC Council of Ministers attempted to undermine the position taken by the summit to draft a new protocol that will replace the disbanded Tribunal.
Chinamasa said the SADC Council of Ministers was left divided as other countries backed Zimbabwe while others differed.
He said two documents will now be subject for debate at the on-going SADC summit as Zimbabwe produced its document separate from that of the Council of Ministers.
Source - Zbc
