OWN CORRESPONDENT, Swakopmund | Monday, 9.30PM
NAMIBIAN President Sam Nujoma on Sunday night called on Southern African leaders to cultivate smart partnerships crucial for the region’s economic development.
Nujoma was speaking at a banquet for Southern African Development Community heads of state who are attending the second three-day Southern African International Dialogue (Said) in the Namibian town of Swakopmund.
“There can be no doubt that the increased reliance on smart partnership will improve relationships between governments and the private sector, between employers and their employees, and between suppliers and customers,” he said.
Speaking at the same function, South African Deputy President Thabo Mbeki praised the work of the Southern African Customs Union, saying that, despite its slow progress, the union is acting in “good faith”. Mbeki evaded a pointed question on South Africa’s regional “position of hegemony”, said to be an underlying gripe among other SADC-member states.
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe took the stage at a media briefing after the meeting, calling for all “appropriate organs” to urgently address the escalation of conflict in Angola.
Mugabe — as chairman of SADC’s committee on politics, defence and security — said all organs, including the Organisation of African Unity, are “very concerned about that development”.