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SADC urges Lesotho, DRC to start reform process

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Southern African Development Community  (SADC) Chairperson and President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the governments of Lesotho and Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as opposition parties to start the reform process in earnest.

Ramaphosa called on Lesotho to prioritise the constitutional reforms and complete the process in the shortest period of time.

SADC Troika Heads of State and Government are meeting in Luanda Angola to consider the political security environment of the SADC region.

Constitutional reforms remain a cornerstone towards political stability.  This will constitute the edifice of all other sectorial reforms including security.

Addressing the SADC extraordinary Troika Summit, Ramaphosa said SADC is committed to bring about stability through the work of the institution’s facilitator, deployment of the Oversight Committee and the deployment of SADC Preventive Mission.

With regards to the DRC, President Ramaphosa said they welcomed progress made in the December 2016 Political Agreement as demonstrated by the national IEC.

“The people of the DRC deserve support in their quest to find a lasting solution to the challenges   facing their country,” says Ramaphosa.

This is a sentiment echoed by the SADC’s Head of Defence, Politics and Security and Angolan President Joao Lourenço.

With regards to Zimbabwe, Lourenço said he was encouraged by the transitional progress taking place in that country.

The summit is expected to conclude on the way forward in relation to conflicts in the region and creating a conducive environment for peace and stability to reign.

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