Muluzi said Africa cannot afford its current wars as they are costly and undermine development. He noted that it is a historic moment for Angola to host the SADC Summit in a peaceful environment and urged the international community to seize the opportunity and ensure a speedy restoration of peace in the country.

He said, “The signing of the peace agreement between government and the military wing of UNITA on 4 April 2002 has ushered in a new era of peace and stability.”

Host President José Eduardo dos Santos thanked his fellow member states for supporting his country during the difficult years from 1975 when war broke out between government forces and rebel UNITA.

Dos Santos, who accepted his new role as chairperson of SADC, taking over from President Muluzi, said the new atmosphere of peace in the country is conducive for private sector investment.

In his handover speech, Muluzi also urged member states to deal decisively with the current HIV/AIDS pandemic, which he said is reversing the region’s hard won economic gains.

The SADC chair rotates among member states after one year and it has now become common practice that the host country automatically chairs the Summit as well as the Council of Ministers. The next summit will be hosted by Zimbabwe when the country is expected to take over the chair.

The SADC leaders are meeting here for two days, discussing several development challenges facing the region including the current peace processes in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as food shortages affecting some member states.

All the member states, except for Lesotho and Seychelles, are represented at the highest level. (SARDC)

SARDC has been reporting on SADC from a regional perspective since 1990. SANF can be reproduced in print or broadcast with credit to SARDC and the author.