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Wallace Ruzvidzo, Herald Reporter

SADC Chairman President Mnangagwa is today expected to leave for Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where he will attend the joint SADC-East African Community (EAC) Summit, as the two regional blocs seek an amicable solution to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) security situation.

The President will lead a Double Troika comprising himself (as SADC chairman), the outgoing Chair Angolan President João Lourenço and incoming Chairperson Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina, and the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the outgoing Chair Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema and the incoming Chair Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera.

Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications),  Mr George Charamba, who is also the Presidential Spokesperson, told our Harare Bureau  yesterday that President Mnangagwa was hopeful that the joint meeting would culminate in the silencing of guns not only in eastern DRC but the region at large.

Mr George Charamba

“This (SADC-EAC Summit) is a sequel to the SADC Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State held here (in Harare) to deliberate on eastern DRC . . . where it was agreed that both SADC and the East African Community (EAC) hold a joint summit with a view to tackling the security situation in the region (particularly in DRC).

“We hope that when the two regional blocs combine, we can find a durable way towards lasting peace in the DRC.

“The President is worried by the infighting happening there and is hopeful that the urge for peace will prevail and we silence the guns,” he said.

Both Presidents Mnangagwa and Kenya’s William Ruto will lead the deliberations as SADC and EAC Chairpersons respectively.

Mr Charamba also revealed that some non-State actors would be part of the SADC-EAC summit, as the issue is extensively deliberated on, in the hope of finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

“As you may be aware, the President is going as the SADC Chair and will be heading the Double Troika which means the three (the SADC chairman, outgoing chairman and incoming Chairperson) as well as in the organ . . . the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, the outgoing Chair and the incoming Chair plus the three Troop Contributing Countries which are South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi.

 “For the first time we also hope that non-State actors will also participate at the Summit . . . ,” he said.

DRC, a member of both SADC and the EAC, accuses Rwanda, which is a member of the latter grouping, of backing M23 and other rebel groups, that have left death and destruction in eastern DRC.

According to earlier reports, President Ruto said both DRC’s President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame have agreed to attend the Summit, which is expected to usher a lasting resolution to the crisis.

President Felix Tshisekedi

The Kenyan leader also confirmed that he had engaged South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and other leaders to be part of the process.

Eastern DRC has witnessed a dramatic escalation of violence as M23 rebels, backed by Rwandan soldiers, have overrun the key city of Goma and are now threatening to march towards the capital, Kinshasa.

Decades of unrest have ravaged the region, with multiple armed groups fighting for dominance over the area’s vast mineral wealth.

The capture of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, has sparked fierce clashes, further worsening the already catastrophic humanitarian situation.

The M23 rebels are now advancing on the neighbouring province of South Kivu, putting the city of Bukavu — the provincial capital — squarely in their sights.