Quotes

‘The AU should look to ease communication and co-operation between member states of all these regions. Ideally, it should develop a common assessment of what Isis is doing on the continent's eastern side. Armed with this information, authorities will be better able to close the net around those helping al-Shabab from abroad.’

– The International Crisis Group (ICG), which in its latest report, titled ‘Winning Peace in Mozambique's Embattled North’, said for the RCTC to be successful, it needs to co-ordinate with partners beyond the SADC because Islamic extremism was a continent-wide problem

‘Our judiciary has been rightfully hailed as the model for the world. In its short lifespan of 28 years, it has produced judgments on topics such as socioeconomic rights, accountability, and civil and political rights. It has withstood vicious attacks from politicians and disgruntled litigants. It remains a beacon of hope for a society based on the rule of law and constitutionalism.'
– Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, explaining that the relationship between SA’s executive and judiciary had always been turbulent. He was addressing the second part of the Democracy and Constitutionalism: Civic Education Series held at Constitution Hill last week.

‘We have the most to lose if diamonds are badly managed. We have used everything we’ve got from diamonds for schools, for roads, for medicine, for developing our human resource.’

– Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi on the diamond industry. The southern African nation is vying to host a permanent new headquarters and secretariat for the Kimberley Process, part of the government’s effort to turn the country into a global industry hub. 

‘Strong and sustained multilateral co-operation, understanding and analysis are required in order to support the member states in addressing the challenges posed by terrorism, violent extremism and its associated transnational organised crime activities.'
– Botswana's Minister of Employment Machana Shamukuni at the launch of the SADC Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre in Tanzania