Tanzania new SADC's Chair

TANZANIA was yesterday chosen to chair the Southern African Development Community’s organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (SADC-Troika), as the 36th Heads of State Summit of the regional bloc was concluded here. 

On the other hand, Angola was elected as deputy chair of the organ, which among others will try to seek long-lasting solutions to armed conflicts in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as political impasse in Lesotho.

 Vice-President, Ms Samia Suluhu Hassan, who represented President John Magufuli at the summit, described the meeting as a great success to foster cooperation among member states. 

She said it was high time member states of the regional grouping enhanced efforts to solve challenges facing the people to improve their welfare. 

The VP also spoke of plans by King Mswati III of Swaziland who pledged during the meeting to establish a university in his country before the SADC Heads of State Summit next year to provide scholarships on training of science, innovation and research courses to students from the regional economic grouping.

 “We appreciate and support plans by King Mswati on the varsity since it will help to increase scientists in our region,” Ms Hassan noted while briefing journalists here.

 At the same occasion, Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister, Dr Augustine Mahiga, was hopeful that Tanzania and Angola would help solve the crisis in DRC and Lesotho during the next one year at the helm of SADC-Troika. During the meeting, Swaziland and South Africa were chosen as chair and deputy chair of SADC in the next one year, Dr Mahiga explained.