From November 16-20, 2024, Zimbabwe will host an Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State, marking the country’s first such event since assuming the SADC Chairmanship.
This summit aims to address “emerging issues of regional significance,” with a strong focus on recent election results in Mozambique and Botswana, as well as the upcoming elections in Namibia.
The gathering will offer SADC leaders an opportunity to review democratic transitions within the region. Mozambique’s ruling party, FRELIMO, recently retained power, affirming its influence amid ongoing peace efforts. Meanwhile, Botswana saw a significant shift with the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) ousting the Botswana Democratic Party, ending its 58-year rule.
This is the fifth SADC summit in 2024, following meetings on peace, climate change, regional integration, and development.
The upcoming discussions are expected to guide the region’s approach to political stability, economic cooperation, and environmental resilience.
