South African regional bloc meets to discuss Zimbabwe

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG

Members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are holding an emergency meeting in Botswana on the unfolding political and security situation in Zimbabwe.

The SADC is a regional block of 15 countries. It often intervenes in mediating political impasse among member states.

In a statement, the SADC secretariat said the meeting Thursday was being attended by ministers responsible for foreign affairs from the body’s troika member states of Angola, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa.

The meeting came a day after the Zimbabwean military seized power from President Robert Mugabe and detained him and his family.

The Zimbabwean army reportedly also detained several Cabinet ministers.

Later Thursday, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, urged all stakeholders involved in the Zimbabwe crisis to find a solution in accordance with the country’s constitution, according to a statement published on Thursday.

''The chairperson of the commission stresses that it is crucial that the crisis is resolved in a manner that promotes democracy and human rights as well as socio-economic development of Zimbabwe."

Mahamat expressed the commitment of the African Union to work closely with the SADC and leaders of the region, and to support their efforts.

''The African Union associates itself with the statement made by President Jacob Zuma of South Africa on behalf of SADC,'' the statement said.

*Felix Nkambeh Tih contributed to this report from Ankara