Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo in ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar
SADC Chairman President Mnangagwa is expected to arrive here today for the regional bloc’s 45th Summit of Heads of State and Government, where he will handover the Chairmanship to his Madagascan counterpart Andry Rajoelina.
The President will conclude his highly fruitful tenure at the helm of SADC tomorrow.
Reports indicate that Presidents Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Duma Boko of Botswana, Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, Nandi Netumbo-Ndaitwah of Nambia, Dr Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Daniel Chapo of Mozambique and Eswatini’s King Mswati III, have confirmed attendance.
The Summit, which will be held under the theme, “Advancing industrialisation, agricultural transformation and energy transition for a resilient SADC”, marks a momentous milestone for Madagascar since joining SADC in 2005.
Tomorrow’s gathering of Heads of State seeks to boost regional integration by focusing on three key areas; namely enhancing industrial capacity and regional value chains, transforming agriculture and driving an inclusive energy transition, all aimed at paving the way for a more resilient, sustainable and unified SADC region.
In a communiqué, the SADC Secretariat said: “During the Summit, His Excellency Mr Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar, will officially assume the SADC Chairpersonship, succeeding His Excellency Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
“The Summit will review progress on the implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030, consider a report from the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and review achievements under the 44th Summit theme: ‘Promoting innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an industrialised SADC’.”
In an interview yesterday, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira, who is already here, said the agenda for the meeting of Heads of State had already been finalised.
“We have done their draft agenda, and they are going to meet on Sunday and modify and adopt the proposals that we have made to them,” he said.
President Mnangagwa co-chaired a virtual Joint SADC-East African Community Summit on Wednesday.
Prior to that, the SADC Chairman also co-chaired the historic Joint EAC–SADC Summit in Nairobi on August 1, aimed at coordinating efforts for the eastern DRC peace process.
During his tenure, the President continued to call for the silencing of guns on the continent.
“His Excellency (President Mnangagwa) cochaired a meeting, with President Ruto of the EAC and SADC, in order now to agree to take the process to the African Union.
“So, this process now, after yesterday (Thursday), is going to be taken up by the African union Commission and we are going to address once and for all, the root causes and guarantee long-term peace in the eastern part of the DRC,” said Prof Murwira, himself the outgoing Chair of the Council of Ministers.
As Chair of the regional body, President Mnangagwa registered numerous milestones that gained acclaim within the region and beyond.
The SADC Chair emphasised and championed regional integration, which saw increased collaboration between member States.
President Mnangagwa was also officially handed over the SADC Secretariat Headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana on behalf of the region, following its full acquisition.
Prior to its handover, the structure was under management through a public-private-partnership agreement involving SADC, Bongwe Investments (Proprietary) Limited as the private party and the Botswana government as a guarantor to the arrangement.
In his capacity as SADC Chairman, the President also presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the 19 hectare SADC Standby Force Regional Logistics Depot which will be built in Rasesa, 40km north of Gaborone, among other achievements.
Today, the Summit of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation will be held ahead of the Summit of Heads of State tomorrow.
