Harare, (New Ziana) – The 45th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government closed on a high note in Antananarivo, Madagascar, with member states signing a raft of legal instruments aimed at advancing peace, regional integration, and sustainable development.
From reforms in finance and investment to commitments on health, labour, and human rights, the agreements reflect the bloc’s determination to build a stronger, safer, and more inclusive Southern Africa.
In a statement, SADC said among the highlights was the agreement amending the Protocol on Finance and Investment, signed by Angola and Eswatini, which strengthens measures against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.
In a move hailed as historic, Madagascar and Mauritius signed the agreement amending the SADC Treaty to formally recognise the SADC Parliament as a regional institution, a step seen as deepening democratic governance and oversight in the bloc.
Employment and social justice also featured prominently with the host country and Namibia signing the Protocol on Employment and Labour, setting up a framework to promote decent work across the region.
On the other hand, Mozambique reaffirmed the health agenda by signing the SADC Declaration on Ending AIDS by 2030, underscoring leaders’ commitment to eradicating the epidemic as a public health threat.
On human rights, member states adopted the Declaration on the Protection of Persons with Albinism, with Mozambique and South Africa pledging to strengthen national protection frameworks.
In the fight against crime, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Eswatini signed the Protocol Against Trafficking in Persons, while Eswatini further reinforced its regional cooperation role by signing three more instruments – covering the SADC Standby Force, mutual legal assistance, and extradition.
Economic integration also received a boost as South Africa signed the Protocol on Industry and the agreement amending the Protocol on Tourism, which transfers the functions of the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) to the SADC Secretariat.
Zimbabwe and Namibia endorsed the agreement amending the Protocol on Energy, aligning regional energy frameworks with policy reforms. To enhance decision-making and data-driven planning, Zimbabwe and South Africa signed the Protocol on Statistics, a key step toward strengthening statistical innovation and harmonisation across SADC.
In a statement, the Summit noted that the signing of these legal instruments demonstrates SADC’s collective resolve to strengthen governance, peace, and security, drive regional economic integration and industrialisation, advance social justice, health, and human rights as well as build a safer, more inclusive, and resilient SADC region.
The agreements now await ratification by respective member states to enter into force, marking another milestone in the bloc’s journey towards deeper unity and cooperation.
New Ziana
