A two-day heads of state meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said the region needed to act fast to deal with poverty, unemployment and food insecurity in the wake of a severe drought - but did not discuss the worst-hit country, Zimbabwe.

"It was not on the agenda and therefore it was not discussed," Botswana President Festus Mogae, incoming chairman of SADC, told reporters after the summit.

"We consult with Zimbabwe and advise Zimbabwe in confidence.

That's all we do and that's all we can do," he added.

The African Union (AU) appointed former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano as mediator between the Zimbabwean government and the opposition but president Robert Mugabe rebuffed the move, Chissano said on the sidelines of the summit.

"There is an urgent need for SADC countries to institute policies and programmes aimed at accelerating social and human development," outgoing executive secretary Prega Ramsamy told delegates at the closing ceremony.

The summit also adopted the AU position on gender equality "which provides for a 50 per cent target of women representation in all political and decision-making bodies", the final communique stated.

SADC had a 30 per cent gender equality target before.

The meeting did not produce a common position on Africa's representation in the UN Security Council.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba was elected as Chairman of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, with Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania as his deputy.

SADC also gave the nod to Madagascar to officially become its 14th member.

- Nampa-AFP

Local News Headlines Of The Last 48 Hours

•  CoD unable to pay consultants
•  Nurses' union goes to court
•  Gem suspect found not guilty
•  Former elections boss joins RDP
•  Former elections boss joins RDP
•  Wet weekend promised
•  First round victory for NHE
•  Save a little girl's leg this Christmas
•  Tent school to be replaced
•  Give the gift of life
•  Ex-Namdeb worker fined over diamond theft
•  A Matter of Fact
•  Big Brother Africa 3: Quirky SMSes
•  Location of the Struggle Children a secret
•  Mining royalties 'may backfire'
•  Govt wants to spy on you
•  SPYL saves struggle children from arrest
•  RDP slams Nujoma about troops to DRC
•  Cocaine-dealing suspect acquitted
•  Tired of 'empty promises'
•  Hospital plagued by power problem
•  Mix Camp Settlement gets drought aid
•  Mix Camp Settlement gets drought aid
•  Big Brother Africa 3: Quirky SMSes
•  Diamond jobs under threat
•  Fisherman jailed over Henties Bay stabbing
•  Swapo 'behind Pohamba all the way'