President Thabo Mbeki to lead SA Delegation to the SADC Extra-Ordinary Summit on Zimbabwe

Pretoria- South African President Thabo Mbeki will on Saturday 12 April 2008 lead the South African delegation to the SADC Extra-ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for Lusaka, Zambia to discuss the current situation in Zimbabwe.

In this regard, President Mbeki will be supported by Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad and Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo. Both Deputy Minister Pahad and Ambassador Mamabolo will depart South Africa on Friday 11 April ahead of President Mbeki, to attend the SADC Ministerial session, scheduled for Saturday morning, and in preparation for the Summit of Heads of Heads of State and Government later in the afternoon.

South Africa will participate in this Summit within the context of regional efforts to assist the people of Zimbabwe to address their political and economic challenges. In this regard, President Mbeki facilitated discussions between Zimbabwe’s main political protagonists, ZANU-PF and the two factions of the MDC, within the framework of the SADC mandate, with a view to creating a climate for the holding of the recent elections, which were hailed as peaceful, and whose outcomes would not be contested.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

10 April 2008.