Dar secures the SADC Executive Secretary Post

Dr. Stergomena L. Tax, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Cooperation and the new SADC Executive Secretary.  She will be replacing the outgoing Executive Secretary, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão.  Also in the photo is Ambassador Rajabu Gamaha, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

Dar secures the SADC Executive Secretary Post

By TAGIE DAISY MWAKAWAGO

Lilongwe, Malawi

Tanzania has secured SADC’s Executive Secretary post with 79 percent votes, replacing the outgoing Executive Secretary Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão who had served two terms of eight years.  The Southern Africa Development Community Council of Ministers voted last night, ending their two-days meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi.   

“We won 79 percent of the votes, securing a post of Executive Secretary to be held by Dr. Stergomena L. Tax, currently Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Cooperation,” said Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.  We are just now waiting for the Heads of State and Government to approve the nomination when they meet on 17 to 18 August 2013, said Minister Membe.

“This is the first time for a woman to hold such high post in the Community and we are truly honored to have a formidable candidate to secure such a post,” added Hon. Membe.  

The Executive Secretary position was tightly fought, leaving the other candidate from Seychelles, Hon. Peter Sinon, Minister for Investment Natural Resources and Industry with 72 percent of votes.  Indeed, the Ministers have postponed for one month the voting for a Deputy Executive Secretary position, after the current voting could not come into a consensus terms.  South Africa was vying for a Deputy Executive Secretary position.

The Council of Ministers also discussed the future of the SADC Tribunal, its protocol, functions and overall jurisdiction.  The Council left the matters to be further explored by the member states’ Attorney Generals and Ministers of Law and Constitution Matters, and that to provide their report by April 2014.

Meanwhile, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the current Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC-Troika organ of Politics, Defence and Security),  has already arrived in Malawi yesterday late afternoon, where he chaired a SADC Troika-Organ on Politics, Defence and Security meeting.

During the Troika-Organ meeting, President Kikwete was expected to give a full year report of the Tanzania's Chairmanship of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.  The President is also expected to handover his Chairmanship to H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of the Republic of Namibia.

Further, in Saturday's Heads of State and Government Summit, the agendas tabled to be discussed are the status of Madagascar, Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo.  For Madagascar, Mr. Joaquim Chissano, former President of the Republic of Mozambique will give his Mediation report which reflects the continued engagement of the Malagasy political stakeholders in efforts to resolve the current deadlock in the electoral process.  The SADC has once again asked the three controversial candidates (President of Transition Andry Rajoelina, former President Didier Ratsiraka and Lalao Ravalomanana, wife of former President Ravalomanana) to remove their names on the presidential election ballot. 

For Zimbabwe, the Summit is to receive a brief report about the recent presidential election, as the matter currently is in Court contested by  the other candidate, the Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.  And lastly for Eastern DR-Congo, the report on the Intervention Brigade. 

Tanzania had played a significant role in addressing regional conflicts that threatened security and political stability in the region throughout the course of her tenure.  Matters on the agenda were the deadlock in the implementation of a political roadmap in Madagascar, the implementation of Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe, and the deterioration of security situation in Eastern part of the DR Congo following the instability caused by the M23 rebels.

To the latter, another subject in the agenda is to welcome President Joyce Banda of Malawi, who is the new SADC Chairman for the period 2013/2014.  She is replacing President Armando Guebuza of the Republic of Mozambique.

End.