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Lozitha, Swaziland, ZANIS -- The Southern Africa Development Community-SADC has suspended Madagascar with immediate effect from all the regional

body’s institutions and organs until that country returns to constitutional normalcy.
And the SADC Extraordinary summit of Heads of States and government has urged developed countries to lift all forms of sanctions against Zimbabwe.


The SADC Extraordinary summit which met in Swaziland 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 further decided not to recognise former Disc Jockey Andry Rajoelina as President of Madagascar.

The summit was chaired by His Majesty King Mswati III, who is the Chairperson of the Organ on politics, defence and security cooperation.

In a communiqué released after a ten hours worked up deliberation and read by SADC Executive Secretary, Thomaz Salomao, the Extraordinary summit urged the former Mayor of Antananarivo to vacate the office of the President as a matter of urgency to pave way for unconditional reinstatement of President Ravalomanana.

The summit emphasized that in the event of non-compliance with its decisions, SADC would in collaboration with the African Union and the United Nations consider other options to restore constitutional normalcy.

The communiqué further pointed that the Extraordinary summit called upon the International community not to recognise the appointment of Mr. Rajoelina as his appointment did not only violate the constitution of Madagascar but also violated the core principles and values of the SADC Treaty, the African Union consultative Act and the United Nations Charter.

In this view, the Extraordinary summit called upon the international community to put pressure on the de facto authorities in Madagascar to restore the constitutional normalcy in the shortest possible time.

It also called upon all stakeholders in Madagascar to refrain from taking any actions that are unconstitutional and inconsistent with the democratic values of the region and the continent which lead to further loss of lives, injury or destruction of property.

“In accordance with section 5 (b) and (c) of the treaty of SADC, SADC shall continue to promote common political values, systems and other shared values which are transmitted through institutions which are democratic, legitimate and effective,” read the communiqué in parts.

The Extraordinary summit noted that SADC will continue to engage all concerned parties in Madagscar with a view to facilitate the efforts to peacefully resolve the current political crisis in that country.

It urged SADC to stand united and firm against illegal removal of the democratically elected government of Madagascar by the military and their allies.

On the economic recovery of Zimbabwe, the summit urged donors, the international institutions and the international community to support Zimbabwe and provide it with necessary financial support for its timely economic recovery.

The Extraordinary summit categorically urged the developed countries to lift all forms of sanctions on the southern African country as they undermine that country’s and SADC efforts to normalise the situation in that country.

It mandated all SADC Diplomatic missions to stage a deliberate campaign to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe and to also mobilise resources to support that country’s recovery programme.

The summit which took note of the Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme aimed at guiding that country’s actions and efforts towards economic and social recovery estimated at USD 10 billion urged member states to support Zimbabwe in implementing the programme through budget support, lines of credit, joint ventures and toll manufacturing.

The Extraordinary summit further urged member states to within two weeks inform the SADC secretary on their respective pledges to support Zimbabwe’s economic recovery programme.

A SADC Ministers of Finance comprising South Africa, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, Zimbabwe as well as the Executive Secretary of SADC was established to coordinate SADC support to Zimbabwe recovery process.

The summit was satisfied with the progress made so far in the implementation of he Zimbabwe Global Political Agreement-GPA and commended all parties involved.

The summit however urged all parties involved in the GPA to stand by the provisions of the agreement and to continue with their commitment to the process in the best interest of the people of Zimbabwe.

And His Majesty King Mswati told Journalists after the communiqué was issued that in Madagascar need to be given time to comply with the Extraordinary summit resolutions.

‘We do not recognise Andry Rajoelina and we have given him time to comply with the resolutions from this Summit and we hope he will as soon as possible. Only then shall we find other options to deal with the situation,” said King Mswati.

The one day SADC extraordinary summit which opened at 09:30hours, concluded its deliberations on Zimbabwe’s economic recovery plan and Madagascar’s political crisis a few minutes before 21 hours. Thereafter SADC leaders were seen coming out of the summit Hall with President Rupiya Banda emerging at about 21:16 hours.

The summit was attended by President Rupiah Banda, South Africa President Kgalema Monthlante, Democratic Republic of Congo’s Joseph Kabila, Malawi’s Bingu wa Mutharika and Mozambique President Armando Guebuza.

Others were the host His Majesty King Mswati, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete and Lesotho and Mauritius Prime Ministers Pakalitha Mosisili and Navinchandra Ramgoolam respectively.

Botswana and Namibia were represented by Foreign Affairs Minister’s while Seychelles was represented by the High Commissioner to South Africa.