Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
THE stage is set for the SADC Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government which will be held at the Parliament Building in Mount Hampden this Friday.
As regional leaders converge in Zimbabwe for the summit, political experts say it is an opportunity to come up with a lasting solution to the conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The DRC has been under the microscope due to the volatile situation in Goma where vast mineral deposits have formed the basis of the conflict as various interest groups seek to plunder the natural resources.
SADC leaders under the Chairmanship of President Emmerson Mnangagwa are convening in Zimbabwe this Friday for the 2nd Extraordinary Summit to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the DRC.
Reports from Eastern DRC indicate that the situation is getting out of hand as M23 rebels continue to attack peacekeepers and civilians, impacting negatively on trade within the region.
“What I think is more critical in order to address the issue in DRC is to firstly look at the root cause of the conflict, and therefore, we try to address each and every cause of this particular conflict. I will give you, for example, three areas that might be critical to look at,” political analyst, Dr Leopold Chakanyuka.
“The first one is the historical and ethnic aspect or dimension of the conflict. How is the issue of history ethnicity and tribal background playing in promoting the conflict in DRC? You also go to look at the issue of resources, access to resources, and the resources that are there in Goma, the people who are interested in terms? of the resources in Congo. How best can we address that particular aspect? The third one, which I think is very, very critical is the international dimension of the conflict. I’m saying this owing to the statements that have been made by a number of countries.”
“When you look at the statements that have been made by the Congolese officials, the Rwandese officials, the South African officials and other members, it speaks also to a conflict that has a huge influence in terms of the external aspect. So we definitely have to look at all these three issues one by one and try to find a solution. If we don’t try to address the root cause, we are going to continue to sit down, discuss, but again, failing to come up with the right solution that addresses the conflict in DRC,” he said.
Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) also converged this Wednesday to deliberate on the challenges in the DRC hence the SADC summit scheduled for this Friday is expected to speak to the collaborative effort required to end the crisis.
“There is a need for regional collaboration and a consented unity in the region to deal with the DRC issue. There is also a need for effective resource deployment. There is a need for the deployment of resources towards the DRC crisis and also a consented effort to support the government in DRC to restore stability. With President Mnangagwa being at the helm of the SADC and the role that Zimbabwe has played in coordinating? efforts in dealing with the DRC crisis, since back then, the outcomes of the summit really are going to be significantly successful in shaping the path toward lasting peace in DRC and in the region,” said political scientist, Mr Tongai Dana.
A decisive solution to the DRC conflict is imperative for the region and the continent.
“I also think that tomorrow, as the leaders are going to be deliberating and looking at these issues, they also have to be very decisive in whatever resolution that they’re going to make. A decisive resolution has to be made, a resolution that is going to be supported by all the 16 countries. We need to see a decision that is going to come which is quite decisive and every one of the 16 countries must be able to stand up and speak in support of the resolution that would have been made,” Dr Chakanyuka stated.
“Everyone should stand ready to support whatever resolution that will have been made. But of course, in as much as the resolution is going to be made, we also need to understand that war might not be the solution to end war. There are also other means that should be employed, such as dialogue. Dialogue, it’s very important.
“When we try to bring all the parties together, by bringing all the parties together, we also have to understand the views of all the parties concerned. What are their interests? What exactly do they want? And all the parties have also to compromise so that we come up with the best solution that will end the conflict in Congo,” he said.
According to an East African Community Summit Communique, engagements between SADC and the EAC are considered critical to tackle the DRC conflict for the good of the continent while at the same time enhancing intra-Africa trade.
SADC heads of state and government are expected to start arriving Friday morning, with the summit scheduled to kick off in the afternoon.
