President Kgalema Motlanthe to report Outcomes of SADC Summit on Zimbabwe to the AU Summit, Addis Ababa 2-3 February 2009

Pretoria: South African President and current Chairperson of SADC, President Kgalema Motlanthe  is expected to table a report on the outcomes of the recent SADC Summit held in Pretoria to discuss the implementation of the Zimbabwean Global Political Agreement to the African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for 2-3 February 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

This comes against the background of the decision today by the Zimbabwean parties to launch the Joint monitoring and Implementation Committee as well as the reported decision of the MDC-T to join the ranks of the Inclusive Government in Zimbabwe.

President Motlanthe who is currently in Davos, leading a South African Government delegation to the World Economic Forum meeting is expected to depart for Addis Ababa, where he will be joined by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, later today Friday, 30 January 2009 for the African Union Summit

Minister Dlamini Zuma is already in Addis Ababa, leading the South African Government delegation including Foreign Affairs Director-General Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba to the African Union’s Executive Council of Foreign Ministers to prepare background work for the Summit of Heads of State and Government.

The Summit of Heads of State and Government, organized under the theme“Infrastructure Development in Africa, with emphasis on Transport and Energy Investments is expected to discuss among others: Peace, security and stability on the African continent, including the DRC, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Sudan; the Middle East situation as well as the Global Financial crisis

In addition to the Summit of Heads of State and Government and the Executive Council of Foreign Ministers, President Motlanthe and Minister Dlamini Zuma are expected to attend the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee as well as the African Peer Review Forum where South Africa’s National Programme of Action Report will be presented.

On, Sunday, 1 February 2009, the Summit will hold a Special Session to discuss the African Union Government and receive a Report of the Commission of the Implementation of Decision Assembly/ AU/ December 2006 on the Report of the 12 Heads of State/ government on the Union Government by Dr. Jean Ping, the AU Commission Chairperson.

South Africa is participating in these meetings within the context of the country's priority to consolidating the African Agenda, through amongst others, the strengthening of institutions of the African Union. 

Later on Sunday evening the Heads of State and Government are expected to attend a function in honour of the late Aime Cesare and Miriam Makeba through the recital of poems and literary excerpts of Aime Cesare as well as a live Performance by the Makeba Band.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

30 January 2009