Communiqué of the 29th Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government

source: Republic of Botswana (21/9/09) TAUTONA TIMES no 24 of 2009
The Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"

C7) 8/9/09: COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 29TH SUMMIT OF SADC HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT

1. The Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, from September 07 to 08, 2009.

2. The Summit was officially opened by the SADC Chairperson, His Excellency President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma of the Republic of South Africa.

3. Summit elected His Excellency President Joseph Kabila Kabange of the Democratic Republic of Congo and His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba of the Republic of Namibia as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of SADC respectively.

4. Summit also elected His Excellency President Armando Emilio Guebuza of the Republic of Mozambique and His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda of the Republic of Zambia as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation respectively.

5. The Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government:

Botswana H.E. President Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama
DRC H.E. President Joseph Kabila Kabange
Lesotho The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili
Mozambique H.E. President Armando Emílio Guebuza
Namibia H.E. President Hifikepunye Pohamba
South Africa H.E. President Jacob G. Zuma
Swaziland His Majesty King Mswati III
Zambia H.E. President Rupiah B. Banda
Zimbabwe H.E. President Robert G. Mugabe
Angola Hon. Prime Minister Antonio Paulo Kassoma
Malawi Hon. Professor Eta Banda, Minister of Foreign Affairs
United Republic Hon. Bernard Membe, Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Tanzania
Mauritius Hon. Arvin Boolell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration & International Trade
Seychelles Hon. Patrick Pillay, Minister of Foreign Affairs

6. The Summit was also attended by H.E. Sir Ketumile Masire, former President of the Republic of Botswana and H.E. Joaquim Alberto Chissano, former President of the Republic of Mozambique. Both former Heads of State appraised Summit on the progress made in their respective missions as SADC Eminent Persons and Mediators for the dialogue on the political situation in Lesotho and Madagascar respectively.

7. The following organisations were represented at the Summit: The African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Union Commission (AUC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.

8. His Excellency President Kabila Kabange, host of the 29th Summit welcomed the SADC Heads of State and Government and all the other delegates to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

9. His Excellency President Zuma delivered a speech to Summit both as a new SADC leader following his inauguration as President of his country and as the SADC Chairperson. He highlighted positive developments in the socioeconomic and political areas of SADC during his country's tenure of office and pointed out the challenges facing the region, including the impact of the climate change, global financial and economic crisis, and urged Member States to continue the joint efforts in addressing them. On the political front, he urged the Member States to collectively tackle the challenges in Lesotho, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. He thanked Member States for the support rendered to his country during its tenure of office.

10. Accepting the SADC Chairpersonship, His Excellency President Joseph Kabila Kabange thanked the Outgoing Chairperson for the progress achieved during his leadership of SADC and indicated that he would direct his efforts towards consolidating the gains achieved so far and ensure continuation in the implementation of SADC priorities for the benefit and improvement of the welfare of the people of the SADC Region.

11. The Summit also received the maiden speech by President Rupiah B. Banda of the Republic of Zambia, thanking the Member States for the support he received since he became President of his country last year. President Banda highlighted that, given peace and political stability underpinned by good governance and the right economic policy environment, SADC can perform to its full potential.

12. The Summit also noted a statement of the Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão which highlighted, among other things that the region had been negatively affected by the Global Economic Crisis. The Executive Secretary also reported that the new SADC Headquarters had been completed and that the SADC Secretariat staff has since mid August moved into the new building.

13. The Summit also received a Report from the outgoing Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Swaziland. The Summit noted that the Region remains peaceful and stable. The political and security challenges in a few parts of the region, especially the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of Madagascar and the Republic of Zimbabwe are being effectively addressed.

14. On Zimbabwe, Summit noted the progress made in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement and called on the international community to remove all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe.

15. On Madagascar, Summit noted the progress made in an effort to restore constitutional order in Madagascar. Summit commended H.E. Joachim Alberto Chissano, former President of Mozambique and SADC Mediator for the progress made thus far.

16. Summit noted with concern the attempts to undermine the agreements signed in Maputo by all Malagasy political movements on the 9th of August 2009.

17. The Summit firmly rejected and strongly condemned any unilateral decision which violates the spirit of the Maputo agreements. Summit further reiterated its decision on the suspension of Madagascar from SADC until the restoration of constitutional order in that country.

18. The Summit reiterates its support to the current political dialogue in Madagascar and urges all political stakeholders to fully implement the Maputo agreements.

19. On Lesotho, Summit noted the report of the Eminent Person, former President Sir Ketumile Masire and commended him for his efforts in the post electoral political dialogue in Lesotho. Summit further urged all the Basotho stakeholders to the dialogue to continue to be engaged in the process.

20. The Summit expressed gratitude to the Eminent Persons and Facilitators for their mediation and facilitation efforts and noted progress made in the implementation of agreements to address the political challenges in these countries.

21. The Summit noted the consolidation of democracy and political stability in the region. In particular, the Summit noted the free and fair manner in which the peoples of the Republic of Angola, Republic of Malawi, Kingdom of Swaziland the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zambia have exercised their franchise at the polls last year and this year in the presidential, parliamentary, provincial and local elections. The Summit also noted that Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia are set to hold their elections during the last quarter of this year. The Summit congratulated the Government and people of the Republic of Angola, Republic of Malawi, Kingdom of Swaziland the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zambia for the elections held and wished the other SADC Member States well who are going to the polls later this year. The Summit also congratulated Excellency President Rupiah B. Banda, His Excellency President Jacob G. Zuma and His Excellency President Bingu wa Mutharika for winning elections in their respective countries.

22. The Summit considered progress made towards the achievement of the 50% representation of women in political and decision making positions at all levels in line with their 2005 decision. Summit urged Member States especially those still to hold elections this year to ensure the gender parity goal. Furthermore, Summit congratulated Malawi for appointing a female vice president after the May 2009 elections.

23. The Summit noted progress made in the implementation of the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) and in the preparations for the negotiations of the SADC Customs Union and urged the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration to ensure that outstanding issues are effectively addressed. Summit also noted that the Task Force will meet in a Strategic Forum before the end of 2009 to further examine the regional economic integration agenda.

24. The Summit also reviewed the prevailing food security situation in the Region and noted the improved production. Overall, the Region estimates cereal surpluses in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. Summit noted that while food production and availability has improved in the Region, access to food and malnutrition at household level remains a challenge due to low income and high food prices among others. Summit urged Member States to scale up the implementation of the Dar-es-salaam Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security.

25. The Summit reiterated SADC's support of the African position on a comprehensive internal climate change regime beyond 2012 to be set within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009.

26. The Summit noted progress made in the implementation of the Maseru Declaration on Combating HIV and AIDS, particularly on Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission and the uptake of ARV. In order to achieve universal access targets and mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on socio-economic development and regional integration, Summit urged Member States to intensify their efforts in implementing the Maseru Declaration on Combating HIV and AIDS.

27. Summit approved and/or signed the following six legal instruments:

(i) Memorandum of Understanding on Regional Cooperation and Integration among the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC);
(ii) Agreement Amending the Treaty of the Southern African Development Community (Deputy Executive Secretaries);
(iii) Agreement Amending the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, and Consequential Amendments to the Treaty;
(iv) Declaration on Regional Cooperation in Competition and Consumer Laws and Policies
(v) Agreement Amending the Protocol on the Development of Tourism in the Southern African Development Community.

28. The Summit appointed Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão as SADC Executive Secretary and Eng. João Samuel Caholo as SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration.

29. The Summit expressed its appreciation to the Government and People of the Democratic Republic of Congo for the warm hospitality extended to all delegates and facilities placed at their disposal that made this Summit a success.

30. The Summit supported Malawi's candidature to be the next chairperson of the African Union.

31. The 2010 Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held in the Republic of Namibia.

32. His Excellency President Joseph Kabila Kabange officially closed the Summit.