Mugabe elected SADC deputy chair

via Mugabe elected SADC deputy chair | Radio Dialogue by: Zenzele Ndebele August 18, 2013

President Robert Mugabe has been elected as Southern African Development Community (SADC) deputy chairperson a development that has dealt MDC-T  a heavy blow.

This comes amid reports that Mugabe would be sworn in on Thursday.

Mugabe was elected by other head of states in Malawi during a SADC 33rd meeting.

Mugabe now deputises Malawi president Joyce Banda.

According to SADC operations, Mugabe is now part of the powerful Trioka which comprises of the current SADC Summit Chairperson, deputy and the immediate previous Chairperson.

The Troika System vests authority in this group to take quick decisions on behalf of SADC that are ordinarily taken at policy meetings scheduled at regular intervals, as well as providing policy direction to SADC Institutions in between regular SADC Summits.

The Troika system operates at the level of the Summit, the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, the Council of Ministers and the Standing Committee of Senior Officials.

The development means that Zimbabwe will next year assume full control of SADC chairmanship.

With Mugabe at the decision making position of SADC, it would be difficult for MDC-T to force the country to be included in future SADC agenda.