Online Reporter
Victoria Falls Reporter, Rutendo Nyeve
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Committee of Ministers of Finance and Investment is intensifying efforts to operationalise the SADC Regional Development Fund (RDF).
This Fund has been identified as a crucial mechanism to bridge financing gaps and reduce reliance on external funding.
In light of shifting geopolitical developments and decreasing international financial flows, this internal financial instrument is poised to transform Zimbabwe’s economic landscape and enhance regional integration.
Speaking during the official opening of the Committee of Ministers of Finance and Investment in Victoria Falls on Thursday, Professor Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment
Promotion, emphasised the advancements made towards activating the Fund.
He reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to fast-tracking the ratification of the 2016 Agreement on the Fund’s operationalisation and urged fellow member states to do the same.
“The decision to operationalise the SADC Regional Development Fund as a standalone Special Purpose Vehicle with a permanent capital structure was endorsed by the Council of Ministers in March 2025,” said Prof Ncube, highlighting the importance of collective dedication to regional economic integration.
