EXTRA–ORDINARY SUMMIT OF THE SADC HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE.

COMMUNIQUĖ (available here for download)

1. The Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique on 15 June 2013.

2. Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government and their representatives:

Botswana H. E. Sir Seretse Khama Ian Khama
D.R. Congo H.E. Joseph Kabange Kabila
Lesotho Rt. Hon. Thomas Motsoahae Thabane, Prime Minister
Mozambique H.E. Armando Emílio Guebuza
Namibia H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba
South Africa H.E. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
Zimbabwe H.E. Robert Gabriel Mugabe
Zambia H.E. Guy Scott, Vice President
Swaziland Hon. Sibusiso Dlamini. Prime Minister
Angola Hon. Georges Chikoti, Minister of External Relations
United Republic of Tanzania Hon. Bernard Kamillus Membe, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Malawi Hon. Ken Kandodo, Minister of Defence2
Seychelles Ambassador Barry Faure, Secretary of State
Mauritius H.E. I.M. Dossa, High Commissioner to South Africa and SADC

3. Summit was chaired by H.E. Armando Emílio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique and the Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

4. Summit was also attended by the Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão.

5. Summit considered the political and security situation in the Region, in particular the latest developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Republics of Madagascar and Zimbabwe.

6. On Democratic Republic of Congo

6.1 Summit received a brief on the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Agreement by the DRC Government indicating, among others, continuing progress on the deployment of the SADC Intervention Brigade.

6.2 Summit noted that there is a need for engagement among all political stakeholders in the DRC in order to find a lasting solution for peace, security and stability, and commended the efforts by H.E. Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, for facilitating the ongoing peace talks between the DRC Government and M23 rebels.

6.3 Summit appealed to the Republics of Rwanda and Uganda to consider engaging all the negative forces in an effort to find a lasting political solution in the Great Lakes Region, under the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework.

7. On Madagascar

7.1 Summit received a report on the latest political situation from the SADC Mediation Team on Madagascar on the latest developments in the country.

7.2 Summit commended the SADC Mediator, H.E. Joaquim Chissano, Former President of the Republic of Mozambique for his efforts towards the return of the country to constitutional normalcy.

7.3 Summit urged all parties in Madagascar to respect the Electoral Calendar as provided by the Independent Electoral Commission (CENI-T) and endorsed by the United Nations (UN).

7.4 Summit re-iterated its Decision not to recognize the outcome of any election results which would include the candidates who presented their candidatures in violation of the constitution and the Electoral Law of Madagascar.

7.5 Summit urged the International Community to continue to exert political and diplomatic pressure on the three illegitimate presidential candidates, to withdraw their candidatures for the sake of peace and stability in Madagascar.

7.6 Summit also urged the International Community not to recognize the outcome of any election results which would include the candidates who presented their candidatures in violation of the constitution and the Electoral Law of Madagascar.

8. On Zimbabwe

8.1 Summit received a progress report on the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) from H.E. Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa and the SADC Facilitator on Zimbabwe Political Dialogue.

8.2 Summit also received reports from the parties to the GPA.

8.3 Summit commended H.E. Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa and the SADC Facilitator on Zimbabwe Political Dialogue for his efforts in ensuring the full implementation of the GPA in Zimbabwe.

8.4 Summit endorsed the report of the Facilitator and its recommendations which includes, among others, the following issues
(i) Media Reform;
(ii) Upholding the Rule of Law;
(iii) The role of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC);
(iv) Election Date, Validity of Electoral Regulations; and
(v) Deployment of SADC observers.

8.5 Summit acknowledged the ruling of the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe on the elections date and agreed on the need for the Government of Zimbabwe to engage the Constitutional Court to seek more time beyond 31 July 2013 deadline for holding the Harmonized Elections.

8.6 Summit urged the three Parties to the GPA to undertake immediate measures to create a conducive environment for the holding of peaceful, credible, free and fair elections.

9. Summit wished H.E Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, former President of the Republic of South Africa a speedy recovery.

10. Summit expressed its gratitude to H.E Armando Emílio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique and the Chairperson of SADC, for convening the Extraordinary Summit.

Done in
Maputo, Republic of Mozambique
15 June, 2013