The Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), His Excellency Mr Elias M. Magosi on 28 October, 2021 paid a courtesy call on His Excellency Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique and Outgoing Chairperson of SADC, marking the start of his 5-day visit to Mozambique, primarily aimed at engaging stakeholders and appreciating the work and the progress of the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM).
In welcoming the SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. President Nyusi expressed gratitude for the collaborative work of SAMIM, Forças Armadas de Defesa de Moçambique (FADM) and other troops deployed to Cabo Delgado to fight acts of terrorism and violent extremism which has led to significant improvement in the security situation in the region, enabling Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) in the area to return to their normal lives.
On the preparedness and management of disasters in the region, H.E. President Nyusi said as the rainy season commences in the SADC region, it was imperative for SADC to be prepared in an event of flooding and other natural disasters. On this note, H.E. President Nyusi called for the speedy consolidation of the operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) based in Nacala, in Mozambique which was launched by H.E. President Nyusi and H.E. Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana and Outgoing Chairperson of SADC Organ on Politics Defence and Security Cooperation on 21 June, 2021 to assist in coordinating support to disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts in the SADC Member States.
H.E. President Nyusi expressed concern over the low levels of intra-regional trade which he said continues to hamper SADC’s quest for regional economic integration and socio-economic development, and called on the SADC Member States to enhance their industrial capacity and put collective measures to increase intra-regional trade. The President added that Mozambique has a comparative advantage in transport, communications and energy sectors which are essential for industrial development and enhancement of intra-regional trade.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of SADC, H.E. Magosi said he was delighted to pay a courtesy call on the President on his first official visit to the Republic of Mozambique since his appointment as the 7th SADC Executive Secretary at the 41st SADC Summit held in Lilongwe, Malawi in August 2021.
H.E. Magosi assured the President of SADC’s commitment to supporting the Republic of Mozambique in fighting acts of terrorism and violent extremism in some districts of Cabo Delgado Province through SAMIM. On this note, the Executive Secretary informed the President that he will visit the SAMIM troops to give them moral support and find sustainable ways of ensuring that SAMIM’s objective of supporting Mozambique in combatting, degrading and neutralising terrorist acts is accomplished, while preventing the resurgence and spill over of terrorist activities in the region.
H.E. Magosi highlighted that ensuring sustainable peace and security in Mozambique is critical as the country plays a significant and strategic role in facilitating movement of people, goods and services through its ports and transport corridors connecting land-linked SADC Member States to the sea. In this regard, H.E. Magosi commended Mozambique for facilitating and enabling movement and delivery of essential supplies such as fuel to the land-linked Member States at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The SADC Executive Secretary expressed commitment towards the promotion and deepening of regional integration agenda, using the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030, a 10-year strategic plan covering strategic priority areas of Peace, Security and Good Governance; Industrial Development and Market Integration; Infrastructure Development in Support of Regional Integration; Social and Human Capital Development; Cross-cutting issues including Gender, Youth, Environment and Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management, among others.
During the courtesy call, the SADC Executive Secretary was accompanied by the Head of Mission of SAMIM and Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the Organ, Professor Mpho Molomo and the Director of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs at the SADC Secretariat, Mr Jorge Cardoso.
