Dr Sekeramayi
John Manzongo Herald Reporter
Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi has called for deeper regional co-operation to counter terrorism threats facing Africa, especially in light of last year’s attacks at a popular Kenyan shopping mall.
Addressing delegates at the seventh session of the Zimbabwe-Mozambique Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security in Harare last week, Dr Sekeramayi said terrorist attacks in Africa had escalated in recent years.
“A major threat to the stability and security of Africa continues to be terrorism,” he said.
“The period under review has seen an escalation of terrorist activities on African soil.
“The terrorist attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya and the attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria only serve to highlight the need for us to further enhance counter-terrorism mechanisms in the region.”
Dr Sekeramayi said as Zimbabwe prepared to assume the chairmanship of SADC, it was hopeful that the signing of a peace agreement between the DRC government and M23 rebels would pave way for peace and stability in that country.
He said the recent peaceful presidential elections in Madagascar were also commendable.
Mozambique’s Minister of National Defence, Mr Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, congratulated President Mugabe and Zimbabweans at large for holding peaceful, free, fair and credible elections on July 31, 2013.
The Joint Permanent Commission adopted a communiqué in which it congratulated Zimbabwe for assuming the Deputy Chairmanship of SADC and the AU.
The Commission commended Zimbabwe and Zambia for successfully co-hosting the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly Conference in August 2013.
The Commission noted with concern the continued existence of transnational criminal syndicates in both countries. These are mainly involved in human trafficking, smuggling of precious minerals and metals, money laundering, drug trafficking, poaching and illicit trade.
The Commission commended the successes achieved so far in information sharing to deter and curb criminal activities and urged security agencies to redouble their efforts in this regard.
The Commission congratulated President Armando Emilio Guebuza and the people of Mozambique for successfully holding peaceful municipal elections in November 2013.
The Joint Permanent Commission expressed concern about armed attacks by Renamo against civilians and Mozambique government forces.
Delegates called on Renamo to immediately stop all armed attacks and to disarm.