Southern African leaders pledged to deepen regional integration, strengthen industrialisation and address security and humanitarian challenges as they endorsed infrastructure, agriculture and critical minerals as key drivers of economic growth.
The commitments were made at the 46th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government in Durban, chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was elected chairperson of the regional bloc.
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema was elected incoming chairperson, while Eswatini’s King Mswati III was elected chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
The summit endorsed the theme for the coming year: “Resilient, Sustainable, and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World.”
Leaders said the theme would focus regional efforts on infrastructure development, agricultural transformation and critical minerals as engines of industrialisation, competitiveness, climate resilience and inclusive growth.
The summit also received a mid-term review of SADC’s Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030, which recommended concentrating resources on high-impact priorities including industrialisation, regional value chains, agro-processing, critical minerals, energy transition, economic corridors, one-stop border posts and health financing.
DRC, Madagascar and Mozambique
On security, SADC reiterated its solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and backed coordinated regional and international efforts to restore peace, protect civilians and strengthen humanitarian and public health responses.
The bloc also called for inclusive dialogue and greater resilience in addressing the country’s continuing challenges.
Leaders welcomed engagement in Madagascar through the SADC Panel of Elders, supported by the SADC Mediation Reference Group and Secretariat, and urged stakeholders to preserve calm and use dialogue to resolve grievances.
SADC reaffirmed support for Madagascar’s reform process, including efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, accountability, human rights, citizen participation and a return to constitutional normalcy.
In Mozambique, leaders commended the government’s inclusive national dialogue and its efforts to combat terrorism and maintain security in parts of Cabo Delgado province.
They also praised President Daniel Chapo for inaugurating the SADC Regional Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre in Maputo in June, aimed at tackling illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
Zimbabwe sanctions
The summit congratulated Zimbabwe on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2027-2028 and expressed confidence that Harare would advance the interests of SADC, Africa and the Global South.
SADC again called for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, saying they continued to constrain the country’s ability to realise its full economic potential.
Leaders urged member states to take advantage of changing geopolitical and economic conditions by expanding trade and investment, mobilising domestic resources and strengthening collective resilience.
Health and climate risks
The summit called for stronger regional disease surveillance and preparedness following an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It commended Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe, together with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organisation and other partners, for financial and technical support to the response.
SADC also designated the Botswana Vaccine Institute as a regional Foot and Mouth Disease antigen and vaccine bank as part of efforts to improve preparedness and control livestock outbreaks.
The leaders warned member states to prepare for anticipated El Niño-related climate shocks through stronger early warning systems, drought preparedness and climate-smart agriculture, including irrigation and drought-tolerant crops.
Trade, youth and women
SADC called for increased regional trade in agricultural products by removing non-tariff barriers, harmonising standards and improving cross-border logistics.
The aim is to enable food commodities to move more efficiently from surplus to deficit areas, helping stabilise food supplies and prices across the region.
The bloc also urged governments to mainstream youth programmes into national and regional development plans and allocate more resources to skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, employment and youth leadership.
On gender equality, leaders called for faster progress in promoting women to leadership and decision-making positions and urged governments to strengthen measures to prevent gender-based violence and protect human rights.
Regional tourism and integration
The summit approved an agreement establishing the SADC Tourism UNIVISA, calling on member states to sign it.
The initiative is intended to make travel across the region easier, boost tourism and visitor arrivals, attract investment and deepen regional integration.
Leaders also urged member states to sign and ratify outstanding SADC legal instruments to accelerate cooperation and harmonised economic development.
The summit approved the appointment of former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano to the SADC Panel of Elders, which supports mediation, conflict prevention and preventive diplomacy.
SADC leaders also welcomed Angola’s invitation to attend an African Union Extraordinary Summit on strengthening conflict-prevention and resolution mechanisms, scheduled for Luanda on Aug. 29-30.
The bloc commended South Africa for hosting the ninth annual SADC Industrialisation Week and Exhibition in Durban from July 26-31, saying its declaration should guide efforts to strengthen regional industrial value chains, production, value addition and intra-SADC trade.
The summit also praised Ramaphosa for a SADC public lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Aug. 14, where he called for greater progress towards the objectives of SADC Vision 2050.
The 47th SADC Summit will be held in Zambia.
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