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                     SADC Leaders Summit Opens in Zimbabwe

   by VOA News

   Heads of state from across southern Africa are gathering in Zimbabwe
   for the annual meeting of the Southern African Development Community
   (SADC).

   The two-day meeting opened Sunday, in Victoria Falls, with Zimbabwe's
   President Robert Mugabe taking over chairmanship of the regional bloc
   from Malawi President Joyce Banda.

   During the summit, SADC leaders are expected to discuss deepening
   bilateral relations between member states, in addition to peace and
   security issues, and economic development.

   Reuters news reports that in his opening address, Mugabe urged southern
   Africa to make better use of its natural resources and reduce its
   dependency on foreign aid.

   Rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch,
   are calling on the 15-member regional bloc to address human rights
   violations among its members, including arrests of political activists
   and journalists.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/sadc-leaders-summit-opens-in-zimbabwe
   /2416265.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/sadc-leaders-summit-opens-in-zimbabwe/2416265.html