By Archford Chirimudombo
Harare, (New Ziana) – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Monday commended President Emmerson Mnangagwa for his commitment to regional integration and economic development during Zimbabwe’s interim chairmanship of the group.
The commendation was contained in the communiqué of the 46th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, which also endorsed the theme: ‘Resilient, Sustainable, and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World.’
The theme identifies infrastructure development, agriculture and critical minerals as key pillars for driving industrialisation, enhancing regional competitiveness, building climate resilience and promoting inclusive prosperity.
The Summit also expressed confidence in Zimbabwe’s capacity to advance regional and continental interests following the country’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027-2028 term.
“Summit congratulated the Republic of Zimbabwe on its election as a Non-Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027-2028 term and expressed confidence in Zimbabwe’s ability to advance multilateral cooperation, promote international peace and security, and effectively represent the interests of the SADC region, Africa, and the Global South within the UNSC,” the communiqué reads.
The regional bloc also renewed its call for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe, saying the measures continue to constrain the country’s ability to realise its full economic potential.
Against the backdrop of shifting global geopolitical and economic dynamics, SADC urged member states to take advantage of emerging opportunities to deepen regional integration, expand trade and investment, mobilise domestic resources and strengthen collective resilience in pursuit of sustainable development.
SADC also welcomed progress by member states in promoting women to leadership and decision-making positions, while urging countries that have yet to meet targets under the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and other regional and international instruments to accelerate efforts to achieve greater representation.
“Summit commended Member States that have made significant progress in promoting women to leadership and decision-making positions and urged those that have not yet attained the targets set out in the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, as well as other relevant continental and global instruments, to accelerate the advancement of women in leadership and decision-making positions, while also implementing targeted legislative frameworks and policies to prevent gender-based violence (GBV) and protect human rights,” the communiqué added.
The Summit called on member states to mainstream youth programmes into national and regional development plans and allocate adequate resources to initiatives focused on skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, employment creation and leadership.
Such measures, it said, would strengthen youth participation in development while contributing to socio-economic transformation, resilience and sustainable development across the region.
In his address to the summit, host President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa commended President Mnangagwa for what he described as unifying leadership during his tenure as SADC Chairperson.
“We gather at this Summit to give practical meaning to its promise: to transform borders into bridges, national economies into a shared market, and geographical proximity into shared prosperity. At the outset, I wish to express our appreciation to my brother, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and outgoing Chairperson of SADC.
“We thank you, Mr President, for your leadership and stewardship of our Community. We particularly appreciate the spirit of partnership with which Zimbabwe worked with South Africa during the period of interim leadership. Zimbabwe’s support in co-hosting Sectoral Ministerial Meetings helped to ensure continuity in the work of our Community,” Ramaphosa said.
President Ramaphosa assumed the SADC Chairmanship at the summit, with whoever is elected President of Zambia becoming the incoming Chairperson.
King Mswati III of Eswatini was elected Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
New Ziana
