*Lift Sanctions on Zim - SADC*

http://allafrica.com/stories/200703300009.html

*The Herald* (Harare)
NEWS
March 30, 2007
Posted to the web March 30, 2007

By Innocent Gore
Dar Es Salaam


SADC yesterday stood firmly behind the Government and called for the lifting
of sanctions imposed on the country by the West.

In a communiqué released at the end of a one-day extraordinary summit
attended by 10 heads of state and government here, Sadc also appealed to the
British government to honour its obligations and release funds to compensate
former commercial farmers whose land was acquired for resettlement.

The summit "noted and appreciated the briefing by President Robert Mugabe on
the current political developments in Zimbabwe".

"The Extraordinary Summit recalled that free, fair and democratic
presidential elections were held in 2002 in Zimbabwe. The Extraordinary
Summit reaffirmed its solidarity with the Government and people of Zimbabwe.


"The Extraordinary Summit reiterated the appeal to Britain to honour its
compensation obligations with regard to land reform made at Lancaster House.


"The Extraordinary Summit appealed for the lifting of all forms of sanctions
against Zimbabwe," read the communiqué.

The Sadc heads mandated Sadc executive secretary Mr Tomaz Salamao to
undertake a study on the economic situation in Zimbabwe and propose measures
on how the regional bloc can assist the country to recover economically.

This is the first time that Sadc has collectively called for the lifting of
sanctions on Zimbabwe and come up with a proposal on how the effects of
those sanctions on the country can be countered.

The sanctions against Zimbabwe by Britain and her allies follow a bilateral
dispute between Harare and London after the country embarked on land reforms
in 2000.

The British government of Mrs Margaret Thatcher promised to release funds
for land reforms at the Lancaster House constitutional conference that
culminated in Zimbabwe's independence in 1980 after a protracted armed
struggle.

However, the Labour government of Mr Tony Blair has refused to honour that
obligation and has instead mobilised its allies -- the United States and
some countries in the European Union -- to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Sadc has previously made it clear that the problems in Zimbabwe are a result
of a bilateral dispute with Britain, mainly arising from the land reform
programme, but had not pronounced itself explicitly on the need to have the
sanctions lifted.

The Government has said it will not compensate the former commercial farmers
for the land because it does not have the money to do so, but that it will
pay for the improvements on the land such as dams and other infrastructure.

On the political situation in the country, the summit mandated President
Thabo Mbeki of South Africa to continue to facilitate dialogue between the
MDC and the Government and report back to the troika on Defence, Politics
and Security on progress.

"The Extraordinary Summit also encouraged enhanced diplomatic contacts which
will assist the resolution of the situation in Zimbabwe," read the
communique.

The summit was held in the wake of a protracted media onslaught on Zimbabwe
by the West, with the international media, particularly the BBC and CNN,
speculating that President Mugabe had been "summoned" by Sadc leaders to be
"dressed down" or "shown the exit".

But sources who attended the meeting's closed-door session said President
Mugabe briefed the leaders on the political situation in the country and the
MDC terror campaign that has seen the opposition party petrol-bombing police
stations in Harare, Chitungwiza, Gweru and Mutare.

Suspected MDC supporters also petrol-bombed a Bulawayo-bound passenger train
and a supermarket in Warren Park.

Speaking to reporters on arrival at Harare International Airport, the
President said the summit had also urged the MDC to desist from violence and
to recognise him and his Government as he was legitimately re-elected by the
people of Zimbabwe in 2002.

He said President Mbeki would talk to the opposition and see whether there
is need for dialogue with them, but warned them against engaging in
violence.

The summit also got briefings on the political situation in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and Lesotho by the leaders of those countries,
President Joseph Kabila and Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili respectively.

The leaders resolved to render unconditional support to Mr Kabila's
government in its quest to restore law and order, maintaining peace and
stability and spearheading national reconstruction.

It reaffirmed the sovereign right of the DRC to have a single national army
and urged former Vice President Jean Pierre Bemba to integrate his remaining
armed elements into the national army or to be demobilised. They also
appealed to other armed groups in the DRC to do the same.

The summit reiterated that the rule of law in the DRC must be observed and
respected by all parties in conformity with accepted international
conventions. It expressed concern on the loss of lives and urged all parties
to respect the sanctity of human life and the principles of human rights.

The summit also expressed support to the ongoing efforts for the economic
reconstruction of the DRC.

On Lesotho, the summit agreed to send a Sadc delegation at ministerial level
to assess the situation as requested by the opposition political parties who
want the regional bloc to help in dealing with post-election tensions.

The other leaders who attended the summit were host President Jakaya
Kikwete, President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi, President Armando Guebuza
of Mozambique, President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, Prime Minister
Themba Dlamini of Swaziland and President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia. Botswana
was represented by its Vice President, Mr Ian Khama, while Angola was
represented by its Minister of External Affairs, Mr Joao Bernardo Miranda.
Madagascar and Mauritius were represented by their ambassadors.

President Mugabe returned home last night and was met at Harare
International Airport by Vice President Joice Mujuru, the Minister of State
Security, Land Reform and Resettlement, Cde Didymus Mutasa, the Minister of
Information and Publicity, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, service chiefs and senior
Government officials.

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Copyright (c) 2007 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica
Global Media (allAfrica.com).
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