SADC calls for end to Zimbabwe sanctions

Sep 9, 2009, 10:20 GMT

Nairobi/Kinshasa - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has called on the international community to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe, in recognition of the country's power-sharing agreement.

The power-sharing government was established last September to try to end Zimbabwe's twin political and economic crises, which came after an estimated 100 MDC supporters were murdered in disputed presidential elections.

Congolese President Joseph Kabila, who took over as chairman of the SADC during a two-day summit in Kinshasa, said that continued sanctions could harm the implementation of the power-sharing deal.

Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had been pushing for a separate summit to deal with Zimbabwe at the meeting in Kinshasa, which ended Tuesday evening.

On Monday his spokesman said that the SADC was would call a separate meeting, but the body failed to make this commitment.

The SADC also rejected Tsvangirai's proposal to have the removal of sanctions conditional on the implementation of the power-sharing deal.

Both Kabila and South African President Jacob Zuma called on Mugabe and Tsvangirai to continue talks to resolve the sticking points in the agreement.