Sadc pledges Lesotho support
SADC Chairman President Mugabe (centre) and his South African counterpart President Jacob Zuma (left) and Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane during the Troika Summit in Pretoria, South Africa, yesterday

SADC Chairman President Mugabe (centre) and his South African counterpart President Jacob Zuma (left) and Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane during the Troika Summit in Pretoria, South Africa, yesterday

From Munyaradzi Huni in Pretoria, South Africa
The Double Troika plus two meetings went well into the night yesterday with strong indications the regional grouping will deploy an observer team to monitor the situation in the troubled Kingdom of Lesotho.
This followed the recent attempted coup in Lesotho that saw that country’s Prime Minister Thomas Thabane fleeing to South Africa.
The PM returned to Lesotho after the intervention of Sadc. Double Troika — Sadc Troika comprises Zimbabwe which is chair, Botswana and Malawi, the Troika on Organ on Politics, Defence and Security chaired by South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho.

Plus Two is because of the inclusion of DRC and Tanzania since the meeting also deliberated on disarmament of rebels in DRC. President Mugabe attended the meeting of the Heads of State which was preceded by meeting of ministers from the Double Troika.

The deployment of the observer team was part of the agenda, which included the review of the political and security situation in the region, review of the political situation in Lesotho and the progress made towards the implementation of the FDLR voluntary disarmament in the DRC.

Sources closely following proceedings in the closed door meeting indicated that President Jacob Zuma of South Africa was likely to be the facilitator in Lesotho. The coalition partners in Lesotho made a number of commitments under the Windhoek and Pretoria Declarations in a bid to quell disturbances in that country.

Among the commitments the Lesotho PM Thabane agreed to call back Parliament which he had suspended fearing a vote of no confidence. On the other hand the deputy premier in Lesotho had agreed not to seek the vote of no confidence against the PM.

Both parties had agreed not to use security forces to solve political matters. The deliberations went into the night but in a brief address before the closed door meeting, President Zuma expressed optimism that Sadc would assist Lesotho to solve its crisis.

After the closed door meeting, the regional grouping was expected to issue a communiqué. President Mugabe’s delegation include Home Affairs Minister Mohadi, Presidential Affairs Minister Dydimus Mutasa and other senior Government officials.

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