Communiqué: Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, 30 March 2009, Lozitha Royal Palace, Kingdom of Swaziland

1. The Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government met in Lozitha Royal Palace, Swaziland on 30 March 2009 to consider the political, economic and security situation in the Region, with special focus on the political situation in Madagascar and the economic recovery of Zimbabwe.

2. The meeting was chaired by His Majesty, King Mswati III, the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

3. The extraordinary Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and of Government:

DRC                         H.E. President Joseph Kabila

Lesotho                   Right Honourable Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili

Malawi                     H.E. President Bingu wa Mutharika

Mauritius                 Dr the Honourable Navinchandra Ramgoolam
                                  Prime Minister

Mozambique         H.E. President Armando Emilio Guebuza

South Africa         H.E. President Kgalema Motlanthe

Swaziland            His Majesty, King Mswati III

United Republic     H.E President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
of Tanzania

Zambia                H.E President Rupiah Bwezani Banda

Zimbabwe            H.E President Robert G. Mugabe

Angola                 Hon. Assunção A. dos Anjos
                           Minister of External Relations

Botswana             Hon. Phandu T.C. Skelemani
                           Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Namibia                Honourable Marco M. Hausiku, M.P
............................Minister of Foreign Affairs

Seychelles            H.E. Noellie Alexander
                           High Commissioner to South Africa

4. The Extraordinary Summit noted with satisfaction the progress made in the implementation of the Zimbabwe Global Political Agreement (GPA) in particular the formation of the National inclusive Government.

5. The Extraordinary Summit commend the parties involved in the implementation of the GPA on progress made and urged them to stand by the provisions of Agreement and to continue with their commitment to the process in the best interest of the people of Zimbabwe.

6. The Extraordinary Summit noted the Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme (STERP) developed by the Government of Zimbabwe to guide the country’s actions and efforts towards economic and social recovery of the country, estimated at US $10 billion.

7. The Extraordinary Summit urged Member States to support Zimbabwe to implement STERP, in the form of budget support, lines of credit, joint ventures and toll manufacturing.

8. The Extraordinary Summit also urged Member States to inform the Executive Secretary on the respective pledges to support Zimbabwe’s recovery programme, within two weeks from the date of the meeting.

9. The Extraordinary Summit further urged the developed countries to lift all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe as these sanctions will undermine the country’s and SADC efforts to normalize the situation in that Member State.

10. The Extraordinary Summit urged the donor, the international financial institutions and the international community in general to support Zimbabwe and provide it with the necessary financial support for its timely economic recovery.

11. The Extraordinary Summit established a Committee of SDAC Ministers of Finance comprising South Africa, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Botswana, Zimbabwe as well as the Executive Secretary of SADC to coordinate SADC support to the Zimbabwe recovery process.

12. The Extraordinary Summit mandated the Coordination Committee to visit major capitals in Europe, Asia, and America as well as the major financial institutions to mobilize support for Zimbabwe’s economic recovery programme.

13. The Extraordinary Summit mandated all SADC Diplomatic Missions to stage a deliberate diplomatic campaign to lift the sanctions against Zimbabwe and mobilise resources to support for Zimbabwe’s economic recovery programme.

14. On the political situation in Madagascar, the Extraordinary Summit condemned in the strongest terms, the unconstitutional actions that have led to the illegal ousting of the democratically elected Government of Madagascar and called for an immediate restoration of constitutional order in the country.

15. The Extraordinary Summit decided not to recognize Mr Rajoelina as President of Madagascar as his appointment did not only violate the Constitution of Madagascar and democratic principles, but also violated the core principles and values of the SADC Treaty, the African Union Constitutive Act and the United Nations Charter.

16. The Extraordinary Summit suspended Madagascar from all the Community’s institutions and organs until the return of the Country to constitutional normalcy with immediate effect.

17. The Extraordinary Summit urged the former Mayor of Antananarivo, Mr Andry Rajoelina to vacate the office of the President as matter of urgency paving way for unconditional reinstatement of President Ravalomanana.

18. The Extraordinary Summit underscored that, in the event of non-compliance with the above decision, SADC shall, in collaboration with African Union and United nations, consider other options to restore constitutional normalcy.

19. The Extraordinary Summit calls on the International Community not to recognize the appointment of Mr Rajoelina and put pressure on the de facto authorities in Madagascar to restore the constitutional normalcy in the shortest time possible.

20. The Extraordinary Summit called on all stakeholders to refrain from taking any actions that are unconstitutional and inconsistent with the democratic values of our Region and the continent or lead to further loss of lives, injury or destruction of property.

21. The Extraordinary Summit noted that, in accordance with Article 5 (b) and (c) of the Treaty of SADC, SADC shall continue to promote common political values, systems and other shared valued which are transmitted through institutional which are democratic, legitimate and effective. SADC will continue to engage all concerned parties in Madagascar with a view to facilitate the efforts to peacefully resolve the correct political crisis in the country.

22. The Extraordinary Summit urged SADC to stand united and firm against the illegal removal of the democratically elected Government of Madagascar by the Military and their allies.

23. The Extraordinary Summit supported Mauritius’s offer to host the next Assembly of the African union in July 2009.

24. The Extraordinary Summit expressed its gratitude to His Majesty the King, His government and the people of Swaziland for the warm hospitality and the excellent conditions they provided the delegates.

Done at
Lozitha Royal Palace
Kingdom of Swaziland

30 March 2009