The 45th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) kicked off Monday in Madagascar’s capital with a high-level technical session focused on accelerating the implementation of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2030.
The regional blueprint aims to transform Southern Africa into a stable, inclusive, and industrialised region.
The opening session brought together senior officials from all 16 SADC member states, including Tanzania, which is represented by Ms. Talha Waziri, Director of Regional Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.
Speaking at the official opening, Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, underscored the urgency of deepening regional cooperation in order to achieve the remaining targets of RISDP 2030.
“The RISDP has recorded encouraging progress in several sectors, but with only a few years left to 2030, we must act faster and smarter,” said Ambassador Chimbindi.
“This means stepping up implementation of cross-border infrastructure projects and boosting intra-SADC trade, which remains below desired levels despite modest growth in recent years.”he added
He said persistent barriers ranging from inadequate financing, bureaucratic delays, to limited harmonisation of trade regulations continue to hinder meaningful integration across the region.
Tanzania’s presence in these discussions reflects its longstanding commitment to regional integration as a pathway to shared prosperity and peace.
The country is expected to contribute to shaping decisions on energy, transport, industrialisation, and food security priority areas under the RISDP framework.
Also addressing the delegates, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Ms. Angeles N’Tumba, called on member states to adopt innovative and sustainable financing models to fund strategic projects outlined in the development plan.
“Without long-term funding mechanisms, our ambitions under RISDP will remain just that ambitions,” she cautioned.
“We can draw inspiration from other blocs like ECOWAS, which has established sustainable financial frameworks to drive regional development.”he added
The Antananarivo meeting sets the stage for a series of high-level engagements leading up to the Heads of State and Government Summit scheduled for August 17, 2025.
That gathering will serve as a platform for leaders to assess progress, provide political direction, and adopt key resolutions to advance the integration agenda.
Launched in 2020, RISDP 2030 outlines four strategic pillars: industrial development and market integration, infrastructure development, social and human capital, and peace and security.
It is aligned with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As the region grapples with climate change, youth unemployment, and growing economic inequality, this year’s summit is expected to prioritise practical steps to make regional cooperation more inclusive and results-driven.
For Tanzania, whose economy is deeply linked to regional trade routes and investment corridors, a stronger SADC means more opportunities for growth, stability, and resilience.
The Citizen will continue to provide full coverage of the summit, including Tanzania’s role in shaping regional policies that affect millions of citizens across Southern Africa.