Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states have been urged to recognize that economic liberation is a long and challenging journey requiring strong, unwavering regional integration.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, delivered this message on August 12, 2025, during the handover of the SADC Council of Ministers’ chairmanship to Madagascar’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Rasata Rafaravavitafika.
The meeting, attended by Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, also focused on preparations for the 45th SADC Summit scheduled for August 17, 2025.
Prof. Murwira reminded participants that while challenges are inevitable on the path to economic freedom, they must not derail the community’s shared vision.
“SADC was founded on the principles of regional integration, and member states must remain steadfast to this commitment, drawing inspiration from the founding fathers such as the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Robert Mugabe, and Kenneth Kaunda,” he said.
He applauded ongoing efforts to boost integration, highlighting milestones such as the removal of visa requirements within the region and successful conflict resolution initiatives in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, whose instability continues to impact the entire SADC bloc.
SADC Secretary General Elias M. Magosi outlined the community’s development agenda, emphasizing industrialization, regional integration, trade expansion, and market development.
He noted the summit would review the progress made over the past year and address challenges that threaten the community’s economic goals.
“These challenges include global geopolitical shifts, increased trade tariffs, and a significant reduction in donor aid,” Magosi explained.
“Such developments have disrupted trade flows and investment in the region, threatening established business practices and project financing.”he added
However, he urged member states to view these setbacks as opportunities to innovate, particularly by increasing self-reliance and reducing dependence on external donor funding, which is often unpredictable.
A key focus of SADC’s Industrialization Strategy 2015-2063 is the empowerment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially given the significant participation of youth and women in this sector.
Yet, these groups face obstacles such as limited skills, lack of capital, poor product quality, and inadequate market information.
To tackle these issues, the SADC Secretariat has developed a competitiveness strategy aimed at enhancing SMEs’ capacity to compete effectively within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
As SADC continues its journey toward economic emancipation, the emphasis remains on unity, resilience, and strategic innovation to realize the vision of a prosperous southern Africa.