The Federal Republic of Germany handed over Teleconferencing Conference Equipment to the Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to strengthen the capacity of the Secretariat and Member States to coordinate and implement the SADC regional integration agenda on 2 March, 2022.
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Botswana and Special Representative to SADC, Her Excellency Margit Hellwig-Bötte presented the equipment on behalf of the Germany Government to the SADC Executive Secretary, His Excellency Mr Elias M. Magosi.
In receiving the equipment, H.E. Magosi reiterated SADC’s appreciation to the Federal Republic of Germany for the timely support which, he said, will go a long way in enhancing SADC’s capacity in teleconferencing, virtual engagement, and communication within the SADC Secretariat, and with the 16 SADC Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
H.E. Magosi indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic has offered organisations, like SADC, an opportunity to embrace innovative approaches and technologies that support business continuity, especially in the coordination and management of SADC meetings in an event of unforeseen travel disruptions.
The Executive Secretary pledged to ensure a speedy delivery of the equipment to the SADC National Contact Points in the Member States.
On her part, Ambassador Margit Hellwig-Bötte said the Federal Republic of Germany cherishes the digital cooperation with SADC in times of COVID-19 and beyond, hence the response of the Germany Government to support SADC with the teleconference equipment.
Ambassador Hellwig-Bötte highlighted that, as a result of COVID-19, the past two years have been an eye opener for everyone around the world in terms of digitalisation and that now and in future crucial communication and meetings will be conducted remotely and will complement face-to-face proceedings.
The equipment, which comprises laptops, video cameras, monitors, IT accessories and licences, was procured through the “GIZ Strengthening the National-Regional Linkages in SADC” (SNRL) Programme. The GIZ SNRL Programme supports SADC Member States so that they can better coordinate, monitor and mobilise resources to implement the Regional Agenda.
The Teleconferencing equipment will be used at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, SADC Satellite Offices such as Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre (RPTC) in Harare, Zimbabwe, the Climate Services Centre in Botswana and SADC Plant and Genetic Resource Centre (SPGRC) in Lusaka, Zambia as well as in all the 16 SADC Member States offices of the SADC National Contact Points.
The handover ceremony was attended by the SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Dr. Thembinkosi Mhlongo, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs, Ambassador Joseph Nourrice, GIZ Country Director for SADC and Botswana, Mr Daniel Bagwitz, Director of Policy Planning and Resource Mobilisation at the SADC Secretariat, Dr Mubita Luwabelwa and senior officials from the SADC Secretariat and Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Botswana.
