Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
MINISTERS responsible for Energy and Water from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will meet in Harare on July 4, 2025 to review progress and strengthen cooperation on regional infrastructure, energy security and water resource management.
In a statement, the Sadc Secretariat said the meeting will be preceded by a session of senior officials from June 30 to July 2, 2025.
“The Joint Ministerial Meeting will provide an important platform to assess progress and fast-track key initiatives in the energy and water sectors, as part of Sadc’s commitment to regional integration and improving the lives of our citizens,” reads the statement.
Ministers are expected to deliberate on several key energy issues, including the regional supply-demand balance, the implementation status of cross-border energy infrastructure projects and the integration of renewable energy sources.
The meeting will also address Sadc’s preparedness to implement the Dar es Salaam Declaration on Mission 300, which targets electricity access for 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Other agenda items include regulation of petroleum and gas markets, adoption of green hydrogen technologies, and recommendations from the region’s Just Energy Transition Framework.
On water matters, Ministers will assess progress on transboundary water projects managed by River Basin Organisations, delivery of water and sanitation services, and the development of climate-resilient infrastructure.
Updates are expected on the Sadc Hydrological Cycle Observation System (SADC-HYCOS) and the World Bank-supported Regional Climate Resilience Project.
The Joint Meeting will coincide with the 30th Anniversary of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), which will be marked by a commemorative event in Harare on 03 July 2025. SAPP was established in 1995 to facilitate regional power trading and cooperation among member utilities.
Outcomes of the meeting are expected to shape future regional strategies in energy and water, two sectors central to economic growth and climate resilience in Southern Africa.
