via This is how Mugabe assumed the Sadc chair August 18, 2014
Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe on Sunday assumed chairmanship of Sadc and immediately declared his wish for the regional block to wean itself from depending on foreign partners.
Mugabe said the dependence syndrome compromised the body’s Independence.
In his acceptance speech after taking over chairmanship of the regional grouping from Malawi’s Peter Mutharika in Victoria Falls, Mugabe warned Sadc against coming out with a number of programmes of action that it cannot sustain with its own internally mobilised resources.
Currently, about 60% of Sadc’s programmes were externally funded.
“Our continued over-reliance on the generosity and goodwill of our cooperating partners tend to compromise our ownership and sustainability of our Sadc programmes. How can we proudly claim Sadc to be our own organisation when close to 60% of our programmes are externally funded,” Mugabe queried.
“As Sadc, we should not lose sight of our regional integration agenda, our focus and priorities. We should not be tempted to introduce or embrace, too many programmes which in the end we fail to fund from our own resources.
“We therefore feel that the current process underway to review the regional integrated strategic development programme should not be a mere academic exercise, but a reality check which should redirect us.”
Mugabe added that the review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Programme, should result in a Sadc, with fewer and focussed programmes that were core to its vision of regional integrationaimed at strengthening economies and the improvement of the lives of the people in the region.
He said the theme of the conference – Sadc strategy for economic transformation: leveraging the region’s diverse resources for sustainable economic and social development through beneficiation and value addition – which echoes Zimbabwe’s five year economic blueprint ZimAsset, had the potential to drive both short and long-term regional objectives.
Beneficiation of Sadc’s abundant resources, Mugabe said, could help industrialise the region and create employment. He said the summit should lay a foundation for implementation strategies towards beneficiation of natural resources.
Under Mugabe’s chairmanship, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique will hold elections. He said he hoped the elections would be done according to the Sadc principles and guidelines on democratic elections.
Mugabe said Sadc should observe its own elections with other African institutions and friendly nations instead of inviting hostile countries whom he said tended to be biased. Zimbabwe held elections last year which were condemned by the West although African observer missions, other than Botswana, approved the polls.
“As we saw in Zimbabwe, we of Africa know what the truth is, but there are others who think the truth can become untruth. And these are the people we don’t want. Why do they come if they are not objective?” he asked.
Mugabe also blasted the West for imposing sanctions and said neither he nor Sadc knew why they were imposed.
As has become the norm on regional and international platforms, Mugabe also took a swipe at western nations, this time for folding their arms as Israel “butchers” the people of Palestine.
“It will be remiss of me if i conclude my remarks without reference to the recent brutalities that have been meted out against the Palestinian people. The Western world which claims high moral ground on issues of human rights and the sanctity of life have looked with moral and academic indifference while the Israeli army continues to butcher innocent women and children, all under the false guise of fighting terrorists,” he said.
“We have seen children being butchered, even attacks on schools, hospitals and even attacks on United Nations units. It never happens anywhere. Is Israel that so precious that it can’t be stopped or is it on the assumption that these children will be terrorists tomorrow or that these women will give birth to future terrorists?”
Mugabe added: “This is the most brutal demonstration of man’s humanity to man and it is criminal for the world to keep silent in the wake of such crimes against humanity.”
COMMENTS
When I hear Mugabe saying:“This is the most brutal demonstration of man’s humanity to man and it is criminal for the world to keep silent in the wake of such crimes against humanity.”- this is a case of the kettle telling the pot you are black (…or something like that). What about crimes against your own people Mugarbage! You make me sick Mugarbage- you really do! And how you have been given such a long life beats me?!!!?..but then the Creator is beyond our understanding in some sense..
Inside Zimbabwe most of the 20000 killed during Gukurawundi were women and children, identified as dissidents (terrorists). Maybe Sadc will take this but we Zimbos will not because we are angry
Demonic insanity!
How about the zhing zhongs from China Bob?
“Mugabe also blasted the West for imposing sanctions and said neither he nor Sadc knew why they were imposed.”- here we go again same old story using a platform to blast
Mugabe added: “This is the most brutal demonstration of man’s humanity to man and it is criminal for the world to keep silent in the wake of such crimes against humanity.”
Those idiot dictators that make up the group or civil society should have questioned him on this msge about what he has done- somoone should have said have you taken a look at yourself before you speak of others??…
Mugabe has done far far worse to his own people
So nows the time for Bob to “wean” himself from the f@@@!!ing Chinese.
The world is in shock over the murder of 1700 army recruits by extremists in Iraq. But Zanu apologists all over the world say “let bygones be bygones” for 20 000 innocent civilians murdered by the Fifth Brigade? Double standards? Double speak?
Professor Scones is waxing lyrical about the land reform programme! At least the ANC secretary general seems to have come tis senses – but the SADC will now become a mutual admiration club – letting bygones be bygones.
TOURISM minister Walter Mzembi equated President Robert Mugabe to Jesus Christ and the biblical patriarch Jacob Wednesday in a glowing tribute the veteran leader.
A delighted Mugabe returned the complement, describing Mzembi as one of his “best ministers”.
Mugabe is a crime against humanity
What of your govts rigging of elections against the people of Zimbabwe using of all your condemnations,an Israeli company.A heihenous crime against the people of Zimbabwe!!
Any doctor will confirm that madness is a symptom of syphillis gonorheoa
I thought this old man was schooled only to find out after the misery he brought to Zimboz that he is a sick old man. You will die with many people angry against you. Even beyond the grave generations after generations will be haunted by your failures. I can’t even compare you with an idiot because at least an idiot does not hurt people or kill them.
A SAD EVENT FOR SAD AFRICAN DESPOTIUC COUNTRIES (SADC)!
the madmans rhetoric continues.
By working with nikuv , a company owned by Israels our govt is aiding the attack on Palestines as Israelis are known for funding their army from their own pockets to protect their “homeland” from attacks
ZimAss for SADC? What else does the ruler know? The whole region will go down during the tenure of his rulership. Chance for SA to move further ahead using the FDI concentration. All countries will be tuck shops selling SA products.
Bob, you can talk and talk and talk til the cows come home but everyone knows the truth about the elections. Why did you have to rig if all the people love you??!! Why was Nikuv involved at all if it was going to be fair and square?
You hirerd an Isreal company, Nikuv, yet you condemn Isreal
With out external funding we would be dead buried
How can we proudly claim Sadc to be our own organisation when close to 60% of our programmes are externally funded,” Mugabe queried.
COS U STOLE ALL THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!
A non event of ego inflated sterile impotents of no significance to national , regional or international affairs
“………Is Israel that so precious that it can’t be stopped or is it on the assumption that these children will be terrorists tomorrow or that these women will give birth to future terrorists?”
Seems the record of his own Gukurahundi trail of massacres in Mthwakazi is still fresh in this Shona thug’s mind.
Ripping pregnant women’s stomachs was the norm in case the Mandeeere foetal dissidents later became Mandeere adult dissidents!!
The Gukurahundi imports riot gear like water cannons from Israel; is this not promoting Israel and their economy at the expense of the Palestinians?
Who was Ben Menashe – wasnt he of Israeli origin? What about Nikuv?
HYPOCRITE…maybe by years end???
He is simply sickening.
Mugabe should start by funding ZIMASSET from his own resources before he can preach the rest of SADC how to run their affairs