The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has acknowledged concerns regarding Robert Mugabe’s recognition as head of state of Zimbabwe as “legitimate”, admitting that at the time of the summit meeting in August, Mugabe had not been elected into office through a credible process.

The Zimbabwe Exile Forum (ZEF), a South African-based NGO working with people who have fled from the political violence in Zimbabwe, brought an urgent application before the SADC tribunal in Windhoek seeking the suspension of Mugabe’s invitation to the SADC summit.

It also sought an order that SADC, its organs and institutions refrain from allowing Mugabe and his government to participate in SADC more generally as representatives for Zimbabwe.

The ZEF is being assisted by Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), Namibia’s Legal Assistance Centre and South African advocate, Richard Moultrie.

Priti Patel, acting director of SALC said today: “SADC should be applauded for acknowledging that concerns regarding its recognition of Mugabe as head of state were legitimate.

“But SADC’s response thus far has been woefully inadequate in ensuring a democratic and peaceful transition in Zimbabwe.”

In its response to the application, SADC said that as it has decided the current situation in Zimbabwe must be settled through dialogue, the invitation to the summit was directed not only to Mugabe, but also to representatives from the opposition parties.

The organisation therefore asked the tribunal to turn the application down.

“The settlement of the dispute requires the parties to sit together and talk to each other,” the SADC reply said.

Gabriel Shumba, the director of ZEF, said that “Given Mugabe’s recent attempts to unilaterally convene a government in violation of the negotiated peace agreement, this response from SADC arguing that the peace process is continuing is worrisome.

“If SADC does indeed believe these concerns are legitimate then it must step up and embrace its role as the key regional institution and remove any official recognition of Mugabe as a representative for the republic of Zimbabwe.”

(Source)