Communiqué Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government Lozitha Royal Palace, Kingdom of Swaziland

source: Republic of Botswana (8/4/09): TAUTONA TIMES no 10 of 2009
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"

D - EXTRA - 30/3/09: COMMUNIQUÉ EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT OF SADC HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT LOZITHA ROYAL PALACE, KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND:

1. The Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government met in Lozitha Royal Palace, Swaziland on 30 March 2009 to consider the political, economic and security situation in the Region, with special focus on the political situation in Madagascar and the economic recovery of Zimbabwe.

2. The meeting was chaired by His Majesty, King Mswati III, the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

3. The Extraordinary Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and of Government or their authorised representatives:

DRC - H.E. President Joseph Kabila
Lesotho - Right Honourable Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili
Malawi - H.E. President Bingu wa Mutharika
Mauritius - Dr the Honourable Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister
Mozambique - H.E. President Armando Emilio Guebuza
South Africa - H.E. President Kgalema Motlanthe
Swaziland - His Majesty, King Mswati III
United Republic - H.E. President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
of Tanzania
Zambia - H.E. President Rupiah Bwezani Banda
Zimbabwe - H.E. President Robert G. Mugabe  
Angola - Hon. Assunção A. dos Anjos, Minister of External Relations 
Botswana - Hon. Phandu T.C. Skelemani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and
  International Cooperation
Namibia - Honourable Marco M. Hausiku, M.P, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Seychelles - H.E. Noellie Alexander, High Commissioner to South Africa

4. The Extraordinary Summit noted with satisfaction the progress made in the implementation of the Zimbabwe Global Political Agreement (GPA) in particular the formation of the National Inclusive Government.

5. The Extraordinary Summit commended the parties involved in the implementation of the GPA on progress made and urged them to stand by the provisions of Agreement and to continue with their commitment to the process in the best interest of the people of Zimbabwe.

6. The Extraordinary Summit noted the Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme (STERP) developed by the Government of Zimbabwe to guide the country’s actions and efforts towards economic and social recovery, estimated at US $10 billion.

7. The Extraordinary Summit urged Member States to support Zimbabwe to implement STERP, in the form of budget support, lines of credit, joint ventures and toll manufacturing.

8. The Extraordinary Summit also urged Member States to inform the Executive Secretary on the respective pledges to support Zimbabwe’s economic recovery programme, within two weeks from the date of the meeting.

9. The Extraordinary Summit further urged the developed countries to lift all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe as these sanctions will undermine the country’s and SADC efforts to normalize the situation in that Member State.

10. The Extraordinary Summit urged the donors, the international financial institutions and the international community in general to support Zimbabwe and provide it with the necessary financial support for its timely economic recovery.

11. The Extraordinary Summit established a Committee comprising SADC Troika of Ministers of Finance namely; South Africa, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as Botswana, Zimbabwe and the Executive Secretary of SADC to coordinate SADC support to Zimbabwe recovery process.

12. The Extraordinary Summit mandated the Coordination Committee to visit major capitals in Europe, Asia and America as well as the major financial institutions to mobilize support for Zimbabwe economic recovery programme.

13. The Extraordinary Summit mandated all SADC Diplomatic Missions to stage a deliberate diplomatic campaign to lift the sanctions against Zimbabwe and mobilize resources to support her economic recovery programme.

14.  On the political situation in Madagascar, the Extraordinary Summit condemned in the strongest terms the unconstitutional actions that have led to the illegal ousting of the democratically elected Government of Madagascar and called for an immediate restoration of constitutional order in the country.

15. The Extraordinary Summit decided not to recognize Mr. Rajoelina as President of Madagascar as his appointment did not only violate the Constitution of Madagascar and democratic principles, but also violated the core principles and values of the SADC Treaty, the African Union Constitutive Act and the United Nations Charter.

16. The Extraordinary Summit suspended Madagascar from all Community’s institutions and organs until the return of the Country to constitutional normalcy with immediate effect.

17. The Extraordinary Summit urged the former Mayor of Antananarivo, Mr. Andry Rajoelina to vacate the office of the President as a matter of urgency paving way for unconditional reinstatement of President Ravalomanana.

18. The Extraordinary Summit underscored that, in the event of non-compliance with the above decisions, SADC shall, in collaboration with the African Union and United Nations, consider other options to restore constitutional normalcy.

19. The Extraordinary Summit calls on the International Community not to recognize the appointment of Mr. Rajoelina and put pressure on the de facto authorities in Madagascar to restore the constitutional normalcy in the shortest time possible.

20. The Extraordinary Summit called on all stakeholders to refrain from taking any actions that are unconstitutional and inconsistent with the democratic values of our Region and the continent or lead to further loss of lives, injury or destruction of property.

21. The Extraordinary Summit noted that, in accordance with Article 5 (b) and (c) of the SADC Treaty, SADC shall continue to promote common political values, systems and other shared values which are transmitted through institutions which are democratic, legitimate and effective. SADC will continue to engage all concerned parties in Madagascar with a view to facilitating the efforts to peacefully resolve the current political crisis in the country.

22. The Extraordinary Summit urged SADC to stand united and firm against the illegal removal of the democratically elected Government of Madagascar by the Military and their allies.

23. The Extraordinary Summit supported Mauritius’s offer to host the next Assembly of the African Union in July 2009.