05 Jul 2021

There is need for SADC to vigorously engage on matters of peace and security as well as political stability in the region. 

Such deliberations would have an impact on the socio-economic development of member states, said chairperson of the standing committee of SADC’s senior officials of Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security, Dr Gladys Mokhawa. 

She told a virtual senior officials meeting in Gaborone yesterday that countries should pay attention to progress made in implementation of the MCO and summit decisions. 

“This is very important since our people do not care much about the number of meetings we hold, but more on the implementation of our decisions, which would better their livelihoods,” said Dr Mokhawa, also permanent secretary in the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation..

Equally important, she said, was consolidation of democracy in the region, particularly in light of emerging security threats that included the COVID-19 pandemic.

She, therefore, expressed hope that the meeting would polish draft guidelines for election observation under Public Health Emergencies for approval by ministers meeting.

She said the guidelines would help address potential risk of COVID-19 spread during elections and in ensuring that democratic imperatives to hold regular elections were not compromised.

SADC senior officials meeting ends tomorrow and countries are expected to have comprehensive recommendations to present to ministers in order to facilitate their deliberations in their quest to enhance peace and security situation in the SADC region. Ends