President Jacob Zuma, in his capacity as chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has called an urgent Organ Troika meeting to discuss the unfolding political and security situation in Zimbabwe.
The meeting will be held at the SADC Secretariat headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana, on Thursday afternoon, SADC said on Wednesday.
The meeting will be attended by the Ministers responsible for Foreign or External Affairs from the SADC Organ Troika member states including Angola, Tanzania and Zambia, plus the SADC Council chairperson, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, who is also the South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Zuma, on behalf of SADC, issued a statement expressing SADC's grave concern over the political situation and urged both the Zimbabwean government and the military to resolve the political crisis amicably.
He also dispatched the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Minister of State Security, Bongani Bongo to Harare, to hold discussions with the military and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who is reportedly confined to his home.
President Mugabe fired his deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa last week, which led to Zimbabwe's army commander General Constantine Chiwenga declaring that the military will "step in" if the revolution is under threat.
The African Union has called on stakeholders in Zimbabwe to address the current political impasse in accordance with that country's constitution.
In a statement on Wednesday, AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said the AU was closely monitoring developments in Zimbabwe.
"I urge all stakeholders to address the current situation in accordance with the constitution of Zimbabwe and the relevant instruments of the African Union, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance," Mahamat said.
He said the situation should be resolved in a manner that promotes democracy, human rights and socio-economic development of the country.
The AU has expressed its commitment to working closely with SADC and the leaders of the region, and to support their efforts. - SAnews.gov.za
