Daima Associates Limited, the consultancy responsible for the Mid-Term Review of Southern African Development Community (SADC) revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO), led by Professor Samuel Wangwe, paid a courtesy call to SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, on the 2nd April 2019. The objective of the meeting was for the consultants to update the Executive Secretary on the progress of their work, as part of the Mission to the SADC Secretariat.
Prof. Wangwe thanked the SADC Executive Secretary for the opportunity rendered to meet with the team. He highlighted that their assignment of reviewing both revised RISDP and SIPO was progressing well as they have started off with fruitful discussions with some SADC Directorates and Units. He further noted that the Inception Report that was presented at a meeting of Senior Officials held in Johannesburg, South Africa in February 2019, was well received, with a number of comments and suggestions that were provided having been taken on board, including the need for the consultancy to visit all 16 Member States. Prof. Wangwe promised to deliver the first draft of their work to the SADC Secretariat by May 2019, while the Final Report will be delivered by mid - July 2019.
The SADC Executive Secretary, cordially welcomed Prof. Wangwe and his entourage to the SADC Secretariat. She stated that the review of the two SADC strategic documents is combined, in order to ensure that the interrelatedness of the RISDP and SIPO is maintained throughout the review process. The focus of the SIPO is to facilitate peace, political stability and security, in order to enable the region to realise its socio – economic development objectives and regional integration through the RISDP.
Dr. Tax indicated that the outcome of the review will shape the direction of SADC for the remaining period, and beyond 2020, as the revised RISDP and SIPO are coming to an end in 2020. She further emphasised the importance of completing the assignment well in time for presentation to the SADC Council of Ministers in August 2019. She pledged her support to the consultants for a successful completion of the exercise.
Professor Samuel Wangwe was accompanied by Professor Mohammed Bakari and Dr. Samuel Nyantahe. The SADC Executive Secretary was accompanied by Mr. Joseph Kamwenyi, Officer in Charge for the Directorate of Policy, Planning and Resource Mobilisation, and Dr. Kondwani Chirambo, representing the Director of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Affairs.
