Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare in VICTORIA FALLS
CHAIRPERSON of the SADC Committee of Senior Officials responsible for Agriculture and Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mr Mooketsa Ramasodi, has arrived in Victoria Falls ahead of the regional senior officials meeting running from 27–28 May 2026.
Mr Ramasodi, who is also the Director General in the Department of Agriculture of the Republic of South Africa, will chair the high-level engagements bringing together senior government officials from SADC Member States.
The meeting forms part of preparations for the Joint Meeting of SADC Ministers Responsible for Agriculture, Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture scheduled for Friday.
Deliberations are expected to focus on advancing food and nutrition security, strengthening climate resilience and promoting the blue economy across the region.
Key issues on the agenda include the regional food and nutrition security situation, the 2025/26 agricultural season performance and the forecast for the 2026/27 season, progress under regional agricultural programmes, youth participation in agribusiness, fisheries governance and aquaculture development.
Officials are also expected to deliberate on regional responses to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), including cross-border surveillance, harmonised vaccination strategies and enhanced information sharing to protect livestock production, trade and food security.
Outcomes from the meeting will feed into broader regional development frameworks including the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030 and the SADC Vision 2050.
Sidumisile Mabena