Zambia’s President Levy Mwanawasa has summoned heads of state of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for an extraordinary summit in Lusaka following what he said were deepening tensions in neighbouring Zimbabwe. Mwanawasa, who is the SADC chairperson, explained Wednesday that had had been thinking of sending a team of former heads of state from the region to go and assess the situation in Zimbabwe, but decided to call the summit in view of the rising tension in Zimbabwe. The SADC is expected to debate on ways and means of assisting the people of Zimbabwe over the current impasse, following the 29 March elections, as well as adopt a coordinated approach to the situation in that country. “I wish to take this opportunity to commend the people of Zimbabwe for the calm and peaceful manner in which the elections were conducted,” Mwanawasa said.
