The Pan Afrikanist Watchman
In a twist of events, the Extraordinary Troika Summit of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation that was set for 29th April, 2021 in Maputo, Mozambique, has been indefinitely postponed.
This comes after the Organ Chairperson Botswana’s President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi who was supposed to chair the meeting went on self-quarantine following the detection of a Covid 19 case among some of his staff members.
In Masisi’s absence, South Africa’s President and In-coming Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, would naturally be the next in line to chair the high-security meeting.
However, according to a statement from the Botswana Office of the President, signed by Press secretary to the President Batlhalefi David Leagajang, President Ramaphosa is appearing at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry, hence the summit had to be “moved to a later date”.
The Summit was scheduled to receive a report of the Technical Assessment Team that was deployed following the decisions of the SADC Extraordinary Double Troika Summit held on 8th April 2021.
It was also expected to decide on troop deployment to Cabo Delgado, where terrorists are running amok, killing, maiming and beheading civilians, which carnage has led to displacement of thousands of citizens and a humanitarian crisis, that has already caught the attention of the international community, including United Nations agencies.
During its meeting of 8th April 2021 the SADC Double Troika Summit of Heads of State and Government noted with concern, the acts of terrorism perpetrated against innocent civilians, women and children in some districts of Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique and reaffirmed SADC’s continued commitment to contribute towards bringing lasting peace and security.
The Summit also condemned the terrorist attacks in strongest terms; and affirmed that such heinous attacks cannot be allowed to continue without a “proportionate regional response”.
According to Leagajang’s statement, Vice President Slumber Tsogwane was supposed to lead Botswana’s delegation to the Summit.
Earlier, a spokesperson of the SADC Secretariat, Barbara Lopi had told The Pan Afrikanist in an interview that the Secretariat was constrained from making any pre-emptive statements about the Summit, and insisted that we wait for the issuance of a Communique post Summit.
