The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, arrived today in Livingstone, Republic of Zambia, for the SADC Troika Summit scheduled for 31 March 2011.
This summit takes place within the context of consolidating the African Agenda, deepening the regional integration efforts and strengthening the regional governance structures of the SADC. South Africa participates in the SADC Troika following the 2010 SADC Summit which, elected His Excellency Rupiah Bwezani Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia, as Chairperson of the Organ for Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation (Organ); His Excellency Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma as the incoming Chairperson of the Organ and His Excellency Mr Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique, as the outgoing Chairperson of the Organ.
The summit will deal with a number of substantive issues which include the following:
- Security Cooperation: The summit will deal with, inter alia, the Ratification of the Protocol on free movement of persons within SADC. The Protocol, which SA has already ratified, seeks to encourage and improve interaction between people and support intra- business.
- On the UNI-VISA within SADC: The Troika will consider the possibilities of synchronising the travel agreements within SADC.
- Implementation of the SADC decisions: The Troika will consider ways to fast-track and monitor the implementation of the SADC Summit decisions. It will also re-state the importance of the long-held democratic tradition and culture of ensuring that decisions within SADC and by extension the AU, should be reached through consensus.
- Discussion on the Political and Security situation in the SADC Region
The Troika will consider reports on the political and security challenges visiting the Kingdom of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Kingdom of Swaziland. - Consolidation of Democracy in the Region
The Troika will deal with the Operationalisation of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council. They will also encourage the culture of holding regular elections within SADC member States. - Development of SADC Mediation and Conflict Prevention Capacity
The Troika will speak to measures taken to promote peace and security within SADC, through mediation and conflict prevention.
South Africa will assume the Chair of the Organ in August 2011 to 2012. Its role as a member of the Troika will include to collectively lead SADC in implementing its Peace and Security agenda and to give policy direction in between the summits.
The Troika Summit was preceded by the Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Politics (MCO) which took place yesterday, 29 March 2011, and the Senior Government Officials consultation that took place on Monday, 28 March 2011.
President Zuma is accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Senior Government Officials. The President and his delegation will return to South Africa on Thursday.
For further information contact:
Mr Clayson Monyela
Cell: 082 884 5974
