Extraordinary SADC Heads of State and Government Summit this month

ZIMBABWE is set to host an Extraordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government, as the region embarks on addressing emerging issues of regional significance.

The gathering, scheduled to take place from 16 to 20 November, will serve as a platform for member States to engage on pressing regional issues and developments.

The hosting of the summit is part of Zimbabwe’s elementary duties as the chair of the 16-member bloc.

President Mnangagwa assumed the rotational chairmanship of SADC on August 8, this year.

Amid shifting geo-political trends and other development threats affecting the region, the forthcoming summit promises to be a crucial event aimed at fostering collaboration and stability within the SADC region.

**Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere addresses members of the media during a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare recently. Picture: Justin Mutenda**

In a post Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the Extraordinary Summit is expected to be briefed on political events in the region, including the recent elections in Mozambique, Botswana and the upcoming polls in Namibia.

“Preparations for hosting are at an advanced stage. Technical sub-committees have already started convening meetings to prepare for the extraordinary summit,” he said.

“The sub-committees will ride on the already established protocols, which facilitated the successful hosting of the 44th SADC summit in order to ensure the seamless convening of the extraordinary summit,” said Dr Muswere.

The Extraordinary Summit represents an essential convergence of leaders focused on addressing significant regional issues.

By engaging in constructive dialogue surrounding recent political events, economic co-operation and pressing security challenges, SADC member states can work towards fostering a more stable and integrated Southern Africa.

The outcomes of the summit are, thus, expected to profoundly impact the region’s future trajectory, underscoring the importance of collaboration in an ever-evolving political landscape.

Dr Muswere said Cabinet has also approved a memorandum of agreement between SADC member States regarding the establishment of a SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Sacreee).

To ensure universal access to sustainable modern energy by 2030, he said Zimbabwe continues to explore and incorporate clean and efficient energy sources to meet the country’s energy needs.

“To achieve this, the Government initiates and promotes co-operation with private and public entities, regional and international bodies. The Memorandum of Agreement between SADC Member States Regarding Establishment of SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Sacreee) to be hosted by Namibia will allow Zimbabwe to join the SADC region in facilitating access to modern and clean energy and improved energy security across the region by promoting market-based uptake of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies,” said Dr Muswere.

He said the co-operation will enable the creation and reinforcement of ecosystems for renewable energy deployment at national and regional level, as well as the development of technical facilities that can pilot and demonstrate replicable renewable energy applications.

Dr Muswere said this will also facilitate the assistance in testing and standardisation of energy efficient technologies, training and skills development and implementation of a global network of knowledge and expertise to be utilised for deployment.

Meanwhile, Dr Muswere mentioned that Cabinet has also approved the Accession of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (Trips) Amendment Protocol of 2025.

Zimbabwe is a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and is party to its constitutive agreements.

“In January 2017, the protocol amending the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (Trips) entered into force. Trips provides for medicines to be produced under special compulsory license, for export to countries particularly reliant on overseas supplies to meet the needs of their patients,” said Dr Muswere.

He highlighted that this secures a legal pathway for access to affordable medicines as a permanent part of the agreement and it creates a very valuable public health safeguard.