The Southern African Development Community which had been mandated to find a solution for the Zimbabwean crisis gave President Robert Mugabe two weeks to swear in Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai as Prime Minister.
Though the three principal parties, The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front and the two factions of the Movement for Democratic Change had agreed to form a government of national unity on 15 September 2008, three months had gone by without a solution.
The SADC meeting in Pretoria on January 26-27, however, decided that Mugabe must swear-in Tsvangirai by 11 February and the new government two days later.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 09PRETORIA164, COMMUNIQUE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE SADC
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|
Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
P 271615Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7154
INFO AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN PRIORITY
AMCONSUL DURBAN PRIORITY
AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG PRIORITY
CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS PRETORIA 000164
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL ZANU SF ZM
SUBJECT: COMMUNIQUE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE SADC
HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT REGARDING ZIMBABWE
¶1. The following is the text of the Final Communiqu of the
Extraordinary Summit of the Southern Africa Development
Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government regarding the
crisis in Zimbabwe held in Pretoria, South Africa on January
26-27, 2009. Heads of State from South Africa, Botswana,
Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia,
Zimbabwe attended. Represented by Ministers of Ambassadors
were Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Seychelles,
Malawi, Madagascar, and Mauritius. Though the final
communiqu indicates that a unanimous consensus was reach by
all the parties on outstanding issues to allow for the
establish of the proposed unity government within the next
several weeks, this remains a controversial interpretation.
The Zimbabwean opposition Movement for Democratic Change
spokespersons and embassy contacts claim they have not yet
agreed to the terms of reference in this communiqu, and they
believe these proposals fall far short of their expectations.
Post will report on the atmospherics and reactions to this
communiqu of the various parties septel.
BEGIN TEXT:
Communiqu of the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State
and Government
Presidential Guest House
Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
26 – 27 January 2009
¶1. The Extraordinary Summit of the SADC Heads of State and
Government met at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria,
Republic of South Africa on 26 – 27 January 2009. The
Extraordinary Summit met to review the implementation of the
Zimbabwe Global Political Agreement (Z-GPA). (Note: Z-GPA of
September 2008. End Note)
¶2. The Extraordinary Summit was chaired by H.E. Kgalema
Motlanthe, Chairperson of SADC and President of the Republic
of South Africa.
¶3. The Extraordinary Summit was attended by the following
Heads of State and Government or their representatives:
Botswana – H.E. President Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama
Lesotho – The Right Honourable Prime Minister Pakalitha
Mosisili
Mozambique – H.E. President Armando Emilio Guebuza, Deputy
Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security
Cooperation
Namibia – H.E. President Hifikepunye Puhamba
South Africa – H.E. President Kgalema Motlanthe, Chairperson
of SADC
Swaziland – H.M. King Mswati III, Chairperson of the Organ on
Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation
United Republic of Tanzania – H.E. President Jakaya Mrisho
Kikwete
Zambia – H.E. President Rupiah Banda
Zimbabwe – H.E. President Robert Gabriel Mugabe
Angola – Hon Assuncao Dos Anjos, Minister of External Affairs
DRC – Hon Alexis Thambwe Muamba, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Seychelles – Hon Patrick Pillay, Minster of Foreign Affairs
Malawi – Hon George Chaponda, Minister of Local Government
and Rural Development
Madagascar – Hon Dr Denis Andriamandroso, Madagascar
Ambassador to South Africa
Mauritius – Mr Anund Priyay Neewoor, GOSK, Secretary for
Foreign Affairs
¶4. The Meeting was also attended by His Excellency Thabo
Mbeki former President of the Republic of South Africa and
the SADC Facilitator on the Zimbabwe Political Dialogue,
Leaders of MDC Formations, Right Honourable Morgan
Tsvangirai, Prime Minister Designate and Professor Welshman
Ncube, representing Professor Arthur Mutambara, the Deputy
Prime Minister Designate of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the
Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomao.
¶5. In his opening remarks, His Excellency President Kgalema
Motlanthe, Chairperson of SADC and President of the Republic
of South Africa welcomed all delegates to the meeting and
re-affirmed SAC’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to
the implementation of the Zimbabwe Global Political
Agreement.
¶6. The Extraordinary Summit noted that the people of
Zimbabwe are faced with the difficult challenges and
suffering that can only be addressed once an Inclusive
Government is in place.
¶7. In view of the above, the Extraordinary Summit decided as
follows:
(i) the Parties shall endeavour to cause Parliament to pass
the Constitutional Amendment 19 by 5 February 2009;
(ii) the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers shall
be sworn in by 11 February 2009;
(iii) the Ministers and Deputy Ministers shall be sworn in on
13 February 2009, which will conclude the process of
the formation of the Inclusive Government;
(iv) the Joint-Monitoring Implementation Committee (JOMIC),
provided for in the Global Political Agreement shall be
activated immediately. The first meeting of JOMIC shall be
convened by the Facilitator on 30 January 2009 and shall,
among other things, elect the chairpersons;
(v) the allocation of ministerial portfolios endorsed by the
SADC Extraordinary Summit held on 9 November, 2008 shall be
reviewed six (6) months after the inauguration of the
Inclusive Government;
(vi) the appointments of the Reserve Bank Governor and the
Attorney General will be dealt with by the Inclusive
Government after its formation; and
(vii) the negotiators of the parties shall meet immediately
to consider the National Security Bill submitted by the MDC-T
as well as the formula for the distribution of the Provincial
Governors;
¶8. The Extraordinary Summit expressed its appreciation for
the efforts of His Excellency Thabo Mbeki Former President of
the Republic of South Africa and the Facilitator of the
Political Dialogue on Zimbabwe in helping to find an amicable
solution to challenges facing the Republic of Zimbabwe and
encouraged him to continue with his facilitation efforts.
¶9. The Extraordinary Summit commended the political parties
to the Global Political Agreement for their openness and
constructive engagement in finding a lasting solution to the
challenges facing Zimbabwe.
¶10. SADC shall remain seized with the Zimbabwe situation in
keeping with its obligations as guarantor of the Global
Political Agreement.
¶11. The Extraordinary Summit directed the Chairperson of
SADC to present to the African Union at its forthcoming
Summit a progress report on the implementation of the
Sharm-El-Sheik Resolution.
¶12. The Extraordinary Summit received a brief on the
prevailing security situation in the Democratic Republic of
Congo and supports the Government efforts to find a lasting
solution to the conflict in the Eastern part of the country.
The Government of the DRC expressed its gratitude to SADC for
the support thus far rendered.
¶13. The Extraordinary Summit also urged the International
Q13. The Extraordinary Summit also urged the International
Community to continue providing the people of the Democratic
Republic of Congo with humanitarian assistance.
¶14. His Excellency President Kgalema Motlanthe officially
closed the Extraordinary Summit.
Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, 27 January, 2009
END TEXT
LA LIME
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