Zimbabwe’s President, His Excellency President E D Mnangagwa assumes the reigns of chairing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at the 44th Ordinary Summit to be held in Harare on the 17th August 2024.
His Excellency President E D Mnangagwa takes over the chairmanship of the regional body from His Excellency Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola at the Summit.
SADC holds its 44th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government under the theme
“Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development towards an Industrialised SADC.”
The theme resonates with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 of attaining an upper middle-income society as the country moves to uplift the life of its citizens. The upliftment of citizens is grounded in infrastructure development, agriculture, mining and beneficiation among other key economic development enablers.
SADC has gone a gear up to unlock opportunities and growth through science, technology and innovation to support the modernisation and industrialisation of the region.
During the Summit various reports will be tabled for discussion and adoption.
The report of the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation will delve on the progress of the implementation of the priorities of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030; receive update of the Food Security and the Impact of the El Nino-Induced Drought and floods in SADC Region; and progress on the implementation of the 43rd SADC Summit Theme which is “Human and Financial Capital: The Key Drivers for Sustainable Industrialisation in the SADC Region”.
The role of the Summit is to craft the policy direction and control of functions of the Community, ultimately making it the policy-making institution of SADC.
The Chairmanship of President Mnangagwa comes in handy as he has already kick-started various initiatives and projects to industrialize the Southern Africa nation.
He is expected to impart first hand experiences to his peers in the region as he is in the midst of a massive economic revolution in his country.
There are various meetings set up to precede the Summit Chief among them the 7th SADC Industrialisation Week which started yesterday and runs from 28 July – 02 August at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC).
Exhibitors from various countries are at the HICC and the Industrialisation week is fully subscribed.
The SADC Council of Ministers Meeting will be held from 13th to the 14th of August at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden.
The SADC and Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) Investment Forum and Exhibition is slated for the 14th August, Harare International Conference Centre
The SADC Public Lecture will be held on 15 August at University of Zimbabwe Diamond Lecture Theatre while the SADC Organ Troika Ministerial Committee and SADC Organ Troika Summit is earmarked for the 16th of August at the New Parliament Building.
A Visit to the iconic Geo Pomona Waste Management and Museum of African Liberation will be done on the 18th of August.
The programme of this year’s Summit is packed and expected to showcase Zimbabwe’s hospitality.
