PRETORIA – 22nd July, 2015 – The 17th SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation ended in Pretoria, South Africa yesterday with a call to the regional body to assist member states experiencing political and security challenges to find lasting solutions.
South Africa’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Maite Nkoana- Mashabane who is also the Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee on of the Organ on politics, Defence and Security Cooperation said that SADC was encouraged by the progress made in the political and security situation in the DRC, Lesotho and Madagascar but added that there was need to monitor the situation to ensure peace and stability continues to prevail in those countries.
Ms. Nkoana-Mashabane said that peace building should be an on-going process in countries which have experienced political and security challenges.
She was speaking during the closure of the two day meeting.
She added that the SADC security framework and regional early warning system required improvement so that they could provide effective and efficient alerts to potential insecurity and instability in the region.
Ms. Nkoana-Mashabane said that the priority of her Committee was to serve and protect citizens, and prevent instability and conflict.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, Defence Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga, Army Commander Paul Mihova, Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani and out-going Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Muyeba Chikonde, attended the meeting.
Issued by
Dorcas Ilunga Chileshe – Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Foreign Affairs