Double Troika Summit commends Pohamba

WINDHOEK, 25 APR – The Double Troika Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) that was held on Tuesday in Luanda, Angola, expressed its appreciation to former President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
A communique issued by the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation on Tuesday said the summit expressed appreciation for his acceptance to serve as the SADC Special Envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“All stakeholders in the DRC were asked to remain committed to the implementation of the electoral calendar and ensure a conducive environment for the holding of peaceful credible elections,” it said.
Tensions in the DRC are growing over veteran President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to quit despite the expiry of his mandate. Kabila has been in power since 2001 and should have stepped down at the end of 2016.
The DRC elections are due to take place on 23 December 2018 after two postponements.
The summit assured the DRC of its continued support to the electoral process and to the enhancement of political stability, peace and security.
The one-day summit further condemned the loss of lives and destruction of property in Madagascar, and urged the government, political parties and citizens to remain calm, exercise restraint, and take measures to avoid escalation of the political and security tensions.
On Tuesday, hundreds of opposition activists in Madagascar called for President Hery Rajaonarimampianina to step down on a fourth straight day of anti-government protests in which at least two people have died.
The opposition is accusing the regime of trying to elbow them out of the race through new electoral laws they claim benefit the incumbent.
The summit approved the urgent deployment of the SADC former Special Envoy and former President of Mozambique Joaquim Chissano to help facilitate a National Dialogue aimed at de-escalation of the political tension and reaching a consensus in that country.
The summit also called upon all political parties and stakeholders in Lesotho to accord the needed seriousness to the National Dialogue and reforms processes, and find lasting solutions to the political and security challenges facing the kingdom.
According to the communique, the government of Lesotho was urged by the summit to prioritise the Constitutional and Security Sector reforms, which should be completed by May 2019. A progress report should be presented to the summit in August 2018.
The summit was attended by Heads of State from Namibia, Angola, South Africa, eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), Zambia, Tanzania, DRC, and the Prime Minister of Lesotho.
NAMPA