Swazi Observer

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DPM JETS OUT FOR SADC EXTRA ORDINARY SUMMIT IN ZIMBABWE

By NOKUPHILA HAJI | 2025-02-01

Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has left the country for Zimbabwe where she would be representing His Majesty King Mswati III at the Southern African Development Community Extra-Ordinary Summit.

Dladla left the country through the King Mswati III International Airport and was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu.

The Summit will be chaired by President of Zimbabwe Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, who is also the chairman of SADC.

Dladla said the main agenda was the issue of the Democratic Republic of Congo whereby there were new security threats following the attacks on peacekeeping enforcers.

She said they were going there to find solutions on how they could diffuse the conflicts and forceful grabbing of towns in Congo.

“On May 8 in 2023, heads of states agreed on that there should be a peacekeeping team that goes to the country to maintain peace between the government and the ‘rebels,” she said.
She said Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania assigned their soldiers around December to try and bring back the peace in that country. She said despite the efforts, the attacks were continuing.

“Peace has to prevail in that country so that the conflict does not spread throughout Africa. We know that when such happens there are civilians who then require humanitarian aid which is something that costs the economy,” she said.

The dpm said Eswatini was advocating for dialogue instead of fighting. According to reports, the attacks have left at least 13 soldiers dead and over 400 000 people displaced since the beginning of the year.

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