By Tafanana Kwedu

Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa says Zimbabwe is not on the agenda of the SADC summit   slated for 13 to 17 August.

Some detractors are calling for an intervention in Zimbabwe claiming there is a “crisis” in the country.

The summit, being held virtually, is coordinated by Mozambique the incoming SADC chair.

 Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe was not up for discussion even at the African Union (AU), since there is no crisis to warrant its placement on anyone’s agenda.

“It is common knowledge that there is no Zimbabwean issue before the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.  Neither is there one such issue before the SADC Summit. Definitely there is no such issue before the continental body, the African Union.

“All said there is no crisis in Zimbabwe which needs external intervention under established international treaties and conventions,” she said. 

She said in the vent of a crisis, there were diplomatic channels to be followed.

“It’s important that we refute press claims of a crisis in Zimbabwe.  Crisis in diplomacy has specific and defined circumstances that go beyond day to day banter,” Mutsvangwa said.

South African domestic politics can be allowed to be spirited, she said, even then neither comments from some figures in the ruling party nor irate remarks from its opposition ranks should be taken as the basis of creating perceptions or attributions of crisis in other nations.

“All said there is no crisis in Zimbabwe which needs external intervention under established international treaties and conventions,” she added.

South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa last week sent three envoys to Zimbabwe on a fact finding mission. The envoys’ findings are yet to be made public.

Countries on the SADC agenda are Mozambique because of an insurgency in northern Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo because of disturbances in the eastern parts of that country.