In his farewell statement to the 35th Heads of State and government summit which ended here yesterday, President Kikwete said Tanzania, had always run elections as stated by principles and values of SADC even the first election under the multiparty system in 1995.
“I’m optimistic that the forthcoming elections in my country will add credence to the success stories. I will certainly do all in my power and capabilities to ensure that the elections are truly free, peaceful, transparent and credible,” he said in his statement read on his behalf by the Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda.
He noted to be content with the deepening of democratic norms and principles in the political discourse and situation in the region where by SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections were tested in Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Mauritius, Zambia and Lesotho. However President Kikwete expressed the tripartite free trade area which includes Comesa, EAC and SADC offers an expanded market of over 600 million people and the GDP of USD 1 trillion ushered in a year era.
According to President Kikwete, the signing of free trade area agreement that involves 26 countries was an ample testimony that the region has come of age and was fundamentally moving in a positive direction towards realising of the continental free trade area.
Meanwhile, the SADC chairperson, President Seretse Khama of Botswana said the people of South African would not judge them (Heads of State and government) by adoption of key strategic documents but rather by the outcome achieved following implementation.
“I therefore call upon all of us to implement agreed priorities in these strategic plans in order to improve the well being of our people,” he said.
He said SADC was currently facing many global developments that as the region the regional body need to take note.
President Khama highlighted some of respective development as Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) coming to an end and being succeeded by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), environmental and climate change discussions.
“As we individually or collectively participate in international for a on these critical issues, let us ensure that SADC voice or position is taken abroad,” he noted.
Meanwhile, His Majesty King Muswati III of Swaziland said member states should basically focus on the SADC primary objective that was to make sure citizens within the region enjoy an acceptable standard of living where issues of employment, food security, quality health and education were addressed.
“We are all aware that there is no country that can achieve this goal and survive in isolation, therefore through SADC we were able to come together to discuss impediments to our social and economic development,” King Muswati III emphasised.
The 36th SADC Heads of State and government summit will be held in August next year in Swaziland where by King Muswati III invited the delegates to participate and enjoy, among others, the traditional reed dance of which he used to marry new wives.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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