‘The duty before us is to realise an industrialised SADC’

YOUR Excellencies, Heads of State and Government of SADC Member States;
Fellow SADC citizens.

Today marks a historic occasion as we commemorate SADC Day.

This day marks the beginning of a new era of unity, peace, solidarity, integration and co-operation.

We reaffirm these values which have continued to define our regional community.
As the peoples of the SADC region, let us celebrate and honour our visionary founding fathers by re-committing to our shared vision of an integrated, industrialised, prosperous and peaceful SADC region.

In the past year, we have witnessed remarkable achievements and faced, head-on, challenges that called for our joint efforts and greater collaboration.

This is the hallmark of our community.

In line with the 44th SADC Summit theme, the duty before us is to realise an industrialised SADC.

We must scale up our collective efforts to value-add and beneficiate our natural resources.

Increased trade in what we produce within our respective countries is critically important in our quest to accelerate regional integration.

The youth, women and our skilled human capital are key catalysts to unlocking sustainable development and industrialisation of the region.

As such, innovation and entrepreneurship among these demographic groups must be encouraged and deliberately promoted.

Skills development and education systems that recognise our unique cultural and rich natural resources must equally be more integrated so that our SADC bloc is ready for the world of the future.

Industrialisation is not just a goal, but is necessary for creating jobs, increasing intra-regional trade, promoting technological advancement, as well as improving lives and livelihoods of the peoples of the region.

By fostering a culture of innovation across our Member States, we are laying the foundation for a competitive, resilient and prosperous SADC region.

To facilitate inclusive and sustainable growth, integration of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and Agenda 2063 into our national developmental plans should remain a priority.

Additionally, more effort towards promoting cross-border projects in energy, information communication technologies and transport infrastructure development are essential areas of focus.

It is pleasing that, as SADC, we have initiated several regional infrastructure projects under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and the SADC

Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP).

 

These are set to enhance connectivity and promote regional integration and industrialisation towards creating a more interconnected and stable region.

Energy supply remains a critical factor in our industrialisation efforts.

The region has set an ambitious goal for universal energy access by 2040, with a significant focus on renewable energy sources.

By leveraging our vast solar and wind potential, we can power our industries and also lead the way to a greener future, while creating new opportunities and leading the way to a higher quality of life for our people.

The role of SADC in consolidating peace, security, constitutionalism and democracy is paramount.

A stable and secure Southern Africa is better positioned to attract investment, foster innovation and create diverse opportunities.

To date, we continue to make progress towards silencing the guns in our region and continent.

Our region is playing its part in the SADC-East African Community joint efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

As we look ahead, let us draw inspiration from our shared history and the progress we have made together thus far.

The path to peace and industrialisation may have hurdles, however, let us remain emboldened by our unity, solidarity and unwavering dedication to our shared vision of an integrated SADC region.

The onus to build, develop, industrialise and ensure full integration of our region lies with us.

No country in our region must be left behind.

Therefore, I call upon us, the people of SADC, to renew our collective determination to attain the vision that saw the founding of this august organisation.

Let us, therefore, work together with greater unity of purpose as we foster peace, security and a prosperous Southern Africa for both present and future generations.

The SADC we want shall be built by its people.

I wish us all a happy and memorable SADC Day.
Long live SADC!
Long live our unity!
Long live our solidarity!
I thank you!