Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo in ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar
THE 45th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, which opens today, will focus on the region’s industrialisation, agricultural transformation and inclusive energy transition, the bloc’s chairperson, President Mnangagwa, has said.
The President arrived here yesterday ahead of the regional bloc’s meeting, where he will hand over the baton to Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina, marking the end of his successful tenure.
Writing on his official X handle upon arrival, President Mnangagwa said SADC would reaffirm its commitment to building a stronger and more united Southern Africa.
“I have arrived in Antananarivo for the 45th SADC Summit, where I will hand over the chair to H.E. President Andry Rajoelina.
“Our agenda: industrialisation, agricultural transformation and inclusive energy transition — building a resilient and united SADC,” he wrote.
This year’s summit is running under the theme “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC”.
President Mnangagwa was welcomed at Ivato International Airport by Madagascar’s Prime Minister Ntsay Christian, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira, Zimbabwean Ambassadors to Madagascar and Botswana (as well as SADC) Messrs David Hamadziripi and Henry Mukonoweshuro, respectively, among other senior officials.
Accompanying him were Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Attorney-General Mrs Virginia Mabiza, Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications) Mr George Charamba and other senior Government officials.
President Mnangagwa later attended a State Dinner hosted at the Presidential Palace last night.
Professor Murwira, the outgoing chair of the SADC Council of Ministers, told our Harare Bureau that President Mnangagwa had guided the bloc on a sustainable path of growth and development during his chairmanship.
“It was quite a strategic and busy year. As you know, SADC is a foundation.
“The foundation of SADC is peace and security, which enables the other pillars to stand on this foundation; the first pillar being industrialisation, the second pillar being infrastructure and the third pillar being human capital development or the social sector,” he said.
“We were faced with the crisis in the eastern part of the DRC, which needed to be solved . . . so His Excellency the President was faced with this issue.”
Tanzania’s President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema, Botswana’s Duma Boko, Namibia’s Nandi Ndaitwah, Malawi’s Lazarus Chakwera, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Mozambique’s Daniel Chapo and Eswatini’s King Mswati III have also confirmed their attendance.
