Date: 26/01/2009

Source: Department of Foreign Affairs

Title: SA: Motlanthe: Welcome remarks by President Kgalema Motlanthe to the Southern African Development Community extraordinary summit, Pretoria

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government
Your Excellency Executive Secretary of SADC
Your Excellencies, Ministers
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners

On my own behalf and on behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, I welcome you to the SADC Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government.

Allow me also to express my profound gratitude for availing yourselves at such short notice.

The convening, once again, of an Extraordinary SADC Summit demonstrates our collective recognition of our responsibility, concern and empathy concerning the deteriorating political, economic and social situation in the sisterly country of Zimbabwe.

The conditions in Zimbabwe are not only a Zimbabwean challenge but intrinsically linked to the reputation of our regional economic community, SADC, and the continent as a whole.

Questions concerning Zimbabwe are continuously being raised in capitals and streets of Africa, with the expectation that the Zimbabwean leadership of all persuasions, under the aegis of SADC, will resolutely resolve the impasse with decisiveness and statesmanship.

I trust that we will not fail them.

The resolution of the political stalemate will enable Zimbabwe to continue in its important role as an anchor member of the SADC family and meet the aspirations of the people of Southern Africa and in so doing to also meet the needs and aspirations of the people of Africa.

Zimbabwe, once an important exporter of food is now a net importer of food and receives food aid.

Zimbabwe was once an important bread basket country in Africa. Many Zimbabweans have been forced to leave their homes and eke out a living in foreign lands.

Many of us present will attest to the accompanying challenges.

I trust that our discourse today will successfully and decisively resolve the political impasse so that we expand our energies to the real task of alleviating poverty and improving the quality of life of all our people.

I welcome you to the Republic of South Africa and am confident that deliberations will be productive and successful.

Thank you