from ODIRILE TOTENG in Gaborone, Botswana
Botswana Bureau
GABORONE, (CAJ News) – THERE is a high likelihood that xenophobic violence in South Africa will top the agenda at the Extraordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ Troika Summit of Heads of State and Government today (Monday).
While SADC stated the summit would deliberate on “critical regional peace and security issues, reinforcing SADC’s vision of deeper integration and sustainable development”, it comes amid anxiety among foreign nationals following threats by some vigilante groups and the so-called 30 June deadline for them to leave South Africa.
SADC is hosting the virtual meeting in partnership with Malawi, one of the countries bearing the brunt of the violence.
The Botswana-headquartered bloc stated that the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, comprising Malawi as chair, Eswatini as incoming chair and Tanzania as outgoing chair, would deliberate on critical regional peace and security issues, reinforcing SADC’s vision of deeper integration and sustainable development.
It is mandated to safeguard peace and stability across the region, with responsibilities including conflict prevention, management and resolution, while upholding democratic principles, protecting human rights and preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the 16 member states.
“The recent surge in xenophobic violence, which has displaced thousands and led to loss of life, falls squarely within these areas of regional concern,” Kagiso Molefe, a Botswana-based commentator, said.
“Because the violence in South Africa has sparked cross-border diplomatic friction and prompted calls for greater regional involvement, it is a logical topic for the ‘in-depth deliberations’ scheduled during the summit and its preparatory meetings.”
Molefe, in an interview with CAJ News, said that while SADC had not explicitly stated that South Africa would be on the agenda, some countries in the region had already raised formal diplomatic protests regarding the violence and the safety of their citizens.
“Given that the summit includes Heads of State and Government from the region, these countries have a direct platform to raise these concerns.”
“While SADC uses broad language about ‘critical regional peace and security issues’, the ongoing crisis in South Africa represents a significant threat to the regional stability that the Organ is duty-bound to address.”
Meanwhile, in Malawi, Commissioner for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Wilson Moleni, said that as of Sunday, 2 218 people had already returned home, while 514 were on their way, and about 15 000 were still in South Africa awaiting repatriation.
George Chaponda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, assured repatriated Malawians that they were safe and protected.
Speaking to returnees at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday, Chaponda encouraged them to rebuild their lives using skills acquired while working in South Africa.
– CAJ News