Harare, (New Ziana) — The Southern African Development Community (SADC) must urgently step up efforts to mobilise internal resources in response to a significant rop in donor funding, a senior official has said.
In an interview with New Ziana on the sidelines of the ongoing SADC 34th Committee of Ministers of Trade and the 24th Ministerial Taskforce on Regional Integration in Mt Hampden, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Angele Makombo N’tumba, said the regional bloc is grappling with the effects of declining international support.
”We at the SADC Secretariat must support our member states, but we are facing constraints not only in terms of financial resources, but also human capacity,” said Makombo N’tumba.
In this volatile global context where partners are cutting their funding, we must redouble our efforts to find alternative sources of support,” she said.
She emphasised the need for SADC to prioritise the industrialisation of its economies, a goal that is central to the bloc’s long-term development strategy.
In light of the changing global financial landscape, Makombo N’tumba said the region is currently revising its Industrialisation Strategy to reflect the new realities, adding that a draft of the revised strategy, developed in consultation with member states, will be reviewed later this month.
Industrialisation is not only a development goal, but also a tool for deeper integration, she said.
”Integration issues are close to my heart. Industrialisation will lead to development and strengthen our unity as a region,” she said.
She expressed concern over persistently low levels of intra-SADC trade, a situation worsened by the absence of trade sectoral ministerial meetings over the past two years.
”Trade is very important within our region. Unfortunately, intra-SADC trade has not reached the level we would like to see,” said Makombo N’tumba.
The committee’s current deliberations, among other issues, are focused on resolving non-tariff barriers and harmonising tariff structures among member countries.
However, Makombo N’tumba said internal disagreements and the absence of a formal dispute resolution mechanism continue to hinder progress.
She also highlighted the paradox facing the region that despite being endowed with vast mineral wealth, SADC member states often fail to present a united front in global negotiations, especially during periods of geopolitical instability.
”We are rich in resources, but we lack a unified voice when engaging the world. This weakens our position and limits our potential to benefit from our own assets,” she said.
The call for internal resource mobilisation comes at a critical time for the region, as SADC faces mounting pressure to address economic challenges, foster integration, and reduce its dependence on external partners.
As donor support dwindles, the bloc’s future may well depend on its ability to harness its own strengths and chart a sustainable development path.
New Ziana
