Preparations are at an advanced stage to hold an Extraordinary Summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government from November 16 to 20 to discuss important emerging regional issues, a Cabinet Minister has said. President Emmerson Mnangagwa assumed chairship of the regional grouping during the 44th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit held at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, on the outskirts of the capital in August this year.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere told the media after the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the summit is expected to address emerging issues of regional significance including the recent elections in Mozambique and Botswana and upcoming polls in Namibia.
“Preparations for hosting are at an advanced stage. Technical Sub Committees have already started convening meetings to prepare for the Extraordinary Summit,” said Dr Muswere.
“The Sub-Committees will ride on the already established protocols which facilitated the successful hosting of the 44th SADC Summit in order to ensure the seamless convening of the Extraordinary Summit.”
Meanwhile Dr Muswere said Cabinet on Tuesday considered and approved the Memorandum of Agreement between SADC Member States regarding the establishment of the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE).
The SACREEE is expected to ensure universal access to sustainable modern energy by 2030, Muswere said, adding that the Zimbabwe government continues to explore and incorporate clean and efficient energy sources to meet the country’s energy needs through initiating and promoting cooperation with private and public entities, regional and international bodies.
“The Memorandum of Agreement between SADC Member States regarding establishment of SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE) to be hosted by Namibia will allow Zimbabwe to join the SADC region in facilitating access to modern and clean energy and improved energy security across the region by promoting market-based uptake of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies,” he said.
“The cooperation will enable the creation and reinforcing of ecosystems for renewable energy deployment at national and regional level, development of technical facilities that can pilot and demonstrate replicable renewable energy applications, assistance in testing and standardization of energy efficient technologies, training and skills development, and implementation of a global network of knowledge and expertise to be utilized for deployment.”
Separately, Dr Muswere said Cabinet considered and approved the Accession of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Amendment Protocol of 2025, following a presentation by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, who chairs the Cabinet Committee on Legislation.
Zimbabwe is a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and is party to its constitutive Agreements. The Protocol amending the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) entered into force in January 2017.
TRIPS provides for medicines to be produced under special compulsory license, for export to countries particularly reliant on overseas supplies to meet the needs of their patients.
It secures a legal pathway for access to affordable medicines as a permanent part of the Agreement creating a valuable public health safeguard.
New Ziana
