Gibson Nyikadzino
Zimpapers Politics Hub
SOUTH AFRICAN President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Saturday lead Southern African Development Community (SADC) efforts to advance continental integration and institutional coordination at the 8th African union (AU) Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in El Alamein, Egypt.
President Ramaphosa, who is attending in his capacity as SADC Chairperson, is expected to contribute to discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation between regional and continental institutions and accelerating the achievement of Africa’s development objectives.
The meeting is also expected to focus on harmonising policy implementation processes in line with the objectives of Agenda 2063, the continent’s development framework centred on “the Africa we want”.
In a statement on Thursday, SADC said that, as one of the AU’s eight recognised regional economic communities (RECs), it plays a strategic role in promoting regional integration, peace and security, sustainable development, trade facilitation and infrastructure development in Southern Africa.
“As one of the AU’s eight recognised RECs, SADC continues to play a strategic role in promoting regional integration, trade facilitation, infrastructure development, peace and security, and sustainable development in Southern Africa.
“Through its participation in the coordination meeting, SADC will contribute to discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation between regional and continental institutions and accelerating the achievement of Africa’s development objectives,” the statement read.
The AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting is the principal platform for engagement between the AU, RECs and regional mechanisms (RMs), which are AU-recognised institutions that support continental efforts in peace, security, conflict prevention and stability.
Other areas for discussion at the meeting include reviewing progress in implementing key integration priorities, enhancing collaboration and promoting greater complementarity in support of sustainable socio-economic development across the continent.
