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About 700 high level delegates are expected to attend the Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit in Victoria Falls next month. Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi told journalists in Harare today that Sadc Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax has already visited Zimbabwe twice to assess preparations and was satisfied.
Around 450 delegates are expected during the course of the Summit and 700 at the opening and closing sessions. Minister Mumbengegwi said:
“We are working closely with the Sadc secretariat in preparation for the Summit. Dr Tax has been here to consult. We are working very closely with the secretariat to make sure that everything is on track.
For Zimbabwe, this is a very important role that has been bestowed upon our President. It means that for the next three years Zimbabwe will be playing an important leadership role in Sadc.
Already we have been playing an important role as Deputy Chair by chairing meetings when the incumbent Chair, which is Malawi, has not been available. During our role as Chair from August this year to August next year, Zimbabwe will be the centre of activity for Sadc. From August 2015 to August 2016, we will continue to sit in the Sadc Troika as outgoing chair.”
The Summit, which will be held on August 17 and 18, will run under the theme: SADC Strategy for Economic Transformation: Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources for Sustainable Economic and Social Development through Beneficiation and Value Addition.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter