/ 13 January 2000

SADC APPOINTS NEW SECRETARY

THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) has appointed an interim executive secretary following a rift between member ministers and outgoing secretary Kaire Mbuende of Namibia. Mauritian economist Preg Ramsamy was appointed interim chief executive of the 14-nation regional bloc late Monday, the Gaborone-based organisation said. SADC declared that it will appoint a permanent executive secretary at its next summit, due to be held before the end of September in Windhoek, Namibia.