The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers has wrapped up its Ordinary Session at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, marking significant progress on regional development and cooperation efforts.
In his closing remarks, the Chairperson of the Council, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, highlighted strides made in implementing the Regional Strategic Indicative Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030.
“Our deliberations and decisions reflect our collective aspirations—a peaceful, inclusive, competitive, middle to high-income industrialized region where all citizens enjoy sustainable economic well-being, justice, and freedom,” he said.
Professor Murwira also emphasized the importance of addressing peace and security, socio-economic challenges, and humanitarian concerns. He urged member states to turn commitments into concrete actions, ensuring tangible benefits for the region’s population.
Meanwhile, the SADC-European Union (EU) Senior Officials Partnership Dialogue took place ahead of Saturday’s Ministerial meeting, focusing on reinforcing collaboration in areas such as health, climate change, and women’s empowerment.
Chairperson of the SADC Senior Officials, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, acknowledged the EU’s Africa Investment Package as a key driver for regional integration and sustainable growth.
Discussions also covered digital transition, energy, transport, and immigration.The EU delegation, led by the Managing Director for Africa at the European Commission External Relations Service, H.E. Rita Laranjinha, underscored the significance of 2025 in SADC-EU relations. She noted that next year marks the 25th anniversary of the first EU-Africa Summit, presenting an opportunity to strengthen ties and address outstanding issues in trade, peace, and security.
As part of their cooperation, SADC and the EU will celebrate achievements in various sectors, including trade, market access, institutional capacity building, and digital transformation, reinforcing their commitment to regional stability and development.
