African Development Community (SADC) extraordinary summit, Pretoria
26 January 2009
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government
Your Excellency Executive Secretary of SADC
Your Excellencies, Ministers
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners
On my own behalf and on behalf of the Government of the Republic of South
Africa, I welcome you to the SADC Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and
Government.
Allow me also to express my profound gratitude for availing yourselves at
such short notice.
The convening, once again, of an Extraordinary SADC Summit demonstrates our
collective recognition of our responsibility, concern and empathy concerning
the deteriorating political, economic and social situation in the sisterly
country of Zimbabwe.
The conditions in Zimbabwe are not only a Zimbabwean challenge but
intrinsically linked to the reputation of our regional economic community,
SADC, and the continent as a whole.
Questions concerning Zimbabwe are continuously being raised in capitals and
streets of Africa, with the expectation that the Zimbabwean leadership of all
persuasions, under the aegis of SADC, will resolutely resolve the impasse with
decisiveness and statesmanship.
I trust that we will not fail them.
The resolution of the political stalemate will enable Zimbabwe to continue
in its important role as an anchor member of the SADC family and meet the
aspirations of the people of Southern Africa and in so doing to also meet the
needs and aspirations of the people of Africa.
Zimbabwe, once an important exporter of food is now a net importer of food
and receives food aid.
Zimbabwe was once an important bread basket country in Africa. Many
Zimbabweans have been forced to leave their homes and eke out a living in
foreign lands.
Many of us present will attest to the accompanying challenges.
I trust that our discourse today will successfully and decisively resolve
the political impasse so that we expand our energies to the real task of
alleviating poverty and improving the quality of life of all our people.
I welcome you to the Republic of South Africa and am confident that
deliberations will be productive and successful.
Thank you
For inquiries:
Thabo Masebe
Cell: 082 410 8087
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
26 January 2009
Source: Sapa
