The future of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) hinges on building robust research capacity and fostering innovation ecosystems that can drive sustainable industrialization across the region. This was the central theme during the public lecture delivered by Zimbabwe’s President, Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa, at the University of Zimbabwe on August 15, 2024. The lecture, held as a precursor to the 44th SADC Summit in Harare, highlighted the critical need for SADC member states to strategically position themselves in the emerging global economic order.
President Mnangagwa emphasized the importance of embracing new paradigms of education that focus on research, science, technology, and innovation. “We must re-imagine the future we want for SADC,” he stated, underscoring the need to transform the region’s education systems to produce innovators and industrialists equipped to meet the demands of a modern, industrialized economy.
The lecture comes at a time when the SADC region is grappling with the effects of climate change, global pandemics, and shifting geopolitical dynamics—all of which have significant implications for the region’s economic strategies. President Mnangagwa called for SADC to leverage its combined resources and human capacities to emerge as a competitive economic bloc. “We have all it takes to succeed,” he affirmed, urging member states to move away from dependency and towards self-sufficiency through innovation-led development.
Zimbabwe’s own experience with its Heritage-Based Education 5.0 philosophy was presented as a model for the region. This approach integrates research, innovation, and industrialization, focusing on the country’s natural and cultural endowments. The President highlighted the establishment of Innovation Hubs, Industrial Parks, and Science Parks as key initiatives that have started to bear fruit, with Zimbabwean start-ups now producing goods and services that meet the needs of both local and regional markets.
As SADC looks to the future, President Mnangagwa challenged the region to harness its abundant resources and strategically develop its human capital. “No place and no child is being left behind,” he remarked, highlighting the importance of inclusive development in driving the region’s industrialization agenda.
The lecture set the tone for the upcoming SADC Summit, where leaders will discuss strategies to accelerate regional integration and economic growth. With the right education frameworks and a focus on research and innovation, SADC is poised to become a significant player in the global economy. The future, as President Mnangagwa noted, is in the hands of the region’s people.
