The Republic of Malawi has reaffirmed its strong commitment towards the implementation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030, a regional blueprint for achieving SADC’s regional integration and shared development goals.
This was said by Her Excellency Mrs Stella Chiripo Ndau, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Malawi and Representative to SADC when she presented her Letters of Credence to H. E Mr. Elias Magosi, SADC Executive Secretary, in Gaborone, Botswana, on 10 December 2024.
Furthermore, Her Excellency Ndau highlighted that Malawi is fully committed to aligning her national priorities with the regional agenda to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth through, amongst others, using agriculture, tourism and mining strategy to spur economic development.
She reiterated Malawi’s steadfast dedication to promoting peace and security within the SADC region as demonstrated by the country’s deployment of troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The High Commissioner highlighted that, as a member of the SADC Organ Troika and Incoming Chairperson of the Organ, her country remains committed to the SADC Electoral Observation Missions (SEOM), a critical mechanism for promoting good governance, peace and security in the region.
The High Commissioner said that as Malawi prepares for her general elections to be held in September 2025, the country looks forward to the deployment of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) and SEOM teams that play a critical role in upholding the democratic principles and practices across the SADC region.
The High Commissioner further commended SADC Secretariat for engaging with the International Cooperating Partners (ICPs), fostering collaboration and support for regional integration and development initiatives. On the industrialization, the High Commissioner noted that the region has performed well despite importance in deepening SADC regional integration and development.
For his part, H. E. Magosi congratulated the High Commissioner for her appointment and appreciated the role that Malawi plays in advancing peace, security and development. H.E. Magosi cited Malawi’s deployment of troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo as an example of the country’s commitment to peace and security in the SADC region.
The SADC Executive Secretary underlined that the country has enormous potential on agro-processing because of her fertile lands and favourable climatic conditions in the region which must be harnessed and exploited for Malawi’s economic growth and development.
The Republic of Malawi is one of the countries which formed Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) on 1 April 1980 in Lusaka, Zambia, following the adoption of the Lusaka Declaration - Southern Africa: Towards Economic Liberation. The other Member States at the formative years were Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
