Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo, Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE will host the Ordinary SADC Council of Ministers meeting from Wednesday to Saturday in Harare this week, where ministers will assess the progress of regional projects and programmes.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira, will preside over the meeting as the current Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers.
A statement from the SADC Secretariat said the Ministers will review the SADC annual corporate plan and budget for the 2025-2026 financial year.
“The Ministers will review the implementation of Council and Summit Decisions; and the theme for the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, which is ‘Promoting innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an industrialised SADC’.
“The Ministers will also review the SADC annual corporate plan and budget for the 2025-2026 financial year to interventions in support of key regional priorities outlined in the SADC regional indicative strategic development plan for 2020-2030),” said the statement.
The SADC Council of Ministers plays a crucial role in overseeing the function and development of SADC.
It consists of Ministers from each of the 16 SADC member States, typically from ministries related to Foreign Affairs, Economic Planning, Finance, or Trade, and meets biannually in March and August.
During the meeting, the Ministers will focus on the theme of the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government: “Promoting innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an industrialised SADC”.
That summit was held in Zimbabwe in August last year, culminating in President Mnangagwa taking over as SADC Chairperson.
The SADC development plan outlines six strategic priority areas: Peace, security, and good governance; industrial development and market integration; infrastructure development for regional integration; social and human capital development; gender, youth, environment, and climate change; and disaster risk management.
Prior to this meeting, SADC senior officials reviewed the mid-term implementation of the plan, and a Finance Committee meeting was held last Saturday.
This gathering reflects SADC’s commitment to fostering regional co-operation and addressing key developmental challenges in Southern Africa.
According to the programme, SADC Executive Secretary Mr Elias Magosi will make the welcome remarks on Wednesday, followed by Prof Murwira.
On Friday, there will be a closing ceremony with Prof Murwira making the closing remarks.
On Saturday, there will be a SADC-EU Ministerial partnership dialogue, with Prof Murwira making his remarks first, followed by Mr Radoslaw Sikorski of the EU presidency and Poland Minister of Foreign Affairs.
There will also be a ceremonial signing of the SADC-EU Co-operation under the Global Gateway.
