Zimbabwe is set to assume the chairmanship of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, a development which a cabinet minister says is an indication that SADC member states have endorsed the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
This was said by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Sibusiso Moyo.
Speaking after the Organ Troika meeting held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Zambia on Saturday, Minister Moyo had this to say:
The confidence which has been accorded Zimbabwe by member States to take a leadership role in the Organ means the issue of legitimacy is dead and buried; in fact, it died a long time ago, that is why it cannot be recycled as an issue for political relevance and expediency.
This means confidence on the part of Zimbabwe by the Sadc region.
It means faith in Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans and above all confidence in and indications of stability in Zimbabwe, which is going to be able to take a leadership role in peace and security matters in the region.
So it is not a mean responsibility.
It means the democracy of the country has matured to an extent that we are now going to have a responsibility as Zimbabwe of oversight, oversight of all the elections which are going to be taking place in the region, and there is quite a lot of them packed from October going forward.
President Mnangagwa will take over the chairmanship of the Organ Troika from Zambian President Edgar Lungu at the 39th Sadc Summit set for Dar es Salaam, the United Republic of Tanzania in August.
His term of office will run for one year, that is, until the 40th Summit in 2020.