Unity and solidarity remain central to strengthening regional integration and achieving the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) development goals, a senior official said on Tuesday as the bloc prepares for its annual summit.
Speaking on Wednesday during the opening of the SADC Senior Officials Meeting in Madagascar’s capital, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, said the region had made tangible progress during his country’s chairmanship despite multiple challenges.
“Regional integration within SADC has continued to deepen,” Chimbindi said. “We have registered progress in peace and security, governance, industrialisation, human capital development, and social services.”
Chimbindi handed over the chairmanship to Madagascar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Eric S. Ratsimbazafy, who pledged continuity and commitment to regional priorities.
The handover comes as the 16-member bloc prepares for a series of high-level meetings, including the SADC Council of Ministers on August 12 and the 45th Summit of Heads of State and Government on August 17.
While praising the bloc’s resilience, Chimbindi warned that the region must remain vigilant and collaborative in the face of economic and environmental disruptions.
“Despite COVID-19, prolonged drought, health concerns, shifting geopolitics, and climate change, our region remains economically stable,” he said.
He called on member states to invest more in cross-border infrastructure projects, particularly in transport, energy, and water, to facilitate trade and development.
“Our region is rich in natural resources and has a large youth population. We must harness these advantages to drive economic growth and address youth unemployment,” he said.
Tanzania was represented at the meeting by Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Amina Khamis Shaaban.