Sadc approves Moz anti-terrorism plan
The Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Extraordinary Summit has approved a framework for support to the Republic of Mozambique in addressing terrorism.
The decision follows Tuesday’s resolutions of the meeting of the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that was convened to review the deployment of the Sadc Mission in Mozambique (Samim).
A communiqué at the end of the summit yesterday stated that the framework outlines, among others, actions for consolidating peace, security and socio-economic recovery of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province.
Reads the communiqué in part: “Summit noted the good progress made since the deployment of the Sadc Mission in Mozambique and extended its mandate with associated budgetary implications, and that it will continue to monitor the situation going forward.
“Summit welcomed the initiative of convening an international conference to support the economic and social reconstruction of Cabo Delgado Province and called upon the international cooperating partners to support the initiative”.
The meeting further commended the Mozambican government for initiating and implementing the Cabo Delgado Reconstruction Plan to enable the delivery of social services and amenities.
Sadc leaders also consoled the countries and families of personnel who were killed in action while for Samim in Mozambique and wished those wounded a speedy recovery.
According to the communiqué, the summit also commended acts of solidarity exhibited in the form of food pledges made by the republics of Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe to alleviate the suffering faced by the internally displaced persons in the Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique.
In his remarks, President Lazarus Chakwera, who is Sadc chairperson, said the bloc’s mission is registering success in Mozambique.
What remains now, said Chakwera, is for the grouping to stay the course and stick together as this is not the time to relent, regress and retreat.
He said the Sadc approach to Mozambique mission to counter terrorism must continue to be multidimensional and comprehensive.
Chakwera said: “The mission must not only focus on neutralising the threat, but also have a post-conflict plan to rebuild.”
He then hailed Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi’s government for launching a comprehensive Cabo Delgado Reconstruction Plan.
The plan, among other things, seeks to provide humanitarian support to the affected population and uplift their living standards.
It also wants to empower the people economically as a preventive measure against radicalisation, especially the youth and to reconstruct infrastructure, including schools, houses, hospitals and water facilities that have been destroyed by terrorist.
Chakwera called on member States and international cooperating partners to not only support the Sadc Mission, but also the comprehensive Cabo Delgado Reconstruction Plan.
Sadc executive secretary Elias Magosi said Sadc fully understands that Mozambique terrorism is an emergency; hence, the need to move with speed to implement the decisions taken by heads of State and governments.
He said: “On this matter, we will continue to be guided by the Decisions of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ, Organ Troika and the Summit to ensure that peace and security prevails in the affected parts of Mozambique”.
Magosi said the Secretariat will continue to work closely and diligently with member States in facilitating and coordinating the implementation of Sadc programmes as well as the summit decisions that are aimed at enhancing cooperation, integration and socio-economic development in the region.
