Maputo, Mozambique, 12 June 2026 – The Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), His Excellency Mr. Elias Magosi, officially handed over the keys of the newly completed headquarters of the SADC Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC). The handover took place on the sidelines of the 3rd Growing Blue Conference held in Maputo, Mozambique from 11 – 12 June 2026. The MCSCC has been established to strengthening fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance across the SADC region, enhance the protection of marine resources and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The keys were received by Dr. Stanley Ndara, Chairperson of the MCSCC Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Fisheries Observer Agency, marking a significant milestone in the operationalisation of the regional institution.
The handover followed the inauguration ceremony held on 11 June 2026 at the Centre’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Katembe, where His Excellency President Daniel Francisco Chapo of the Republic of Mozambique, on behalf of the Government and people of Mozambique, officially handed over the completed facility to the SADC Executive Secretary.
During the handover to the Board of Directors, H.E. Magosi described the occasion as the beginning of a new phase for the Centre, following the completion of its infrastructure. He emphasised that the Centre must now translate the vision of SADC Member States into practical action.
He congratulated the Board on the formal receipt of the facility and wished them success as they assume responsibility for its operations and the implementation of its mandate. He stressed the importance of maintaining high standards of accountability and excellence in the Centre’s work, noting that the trust placed in the SADC Secretariat by Member States and the Government of Mozambique must be reflected in its performance and impact.
He further underscored the Centre’s strategic importance in advancing the region’s Blue Economy agenda through strengthened regional coordination, information sharing and surveillance capacity. He reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to supporting the Centre in delivering on its mandate and contributing to the sustainable management of Southern Africa’s marine resources.
Receiving the keys on behalf of the Board of Directors, Dr. Ndara expressed sincere appreciation to the SADC Executive Secretary and the President of Mozambique for their leadership and commitment throughout the project’s implementation, from inception to completion.
He also acknowledged the contributions of SADC Member States and cooperating partners, particularly the World Bank, whose support was instrumental in bringing the Centre to fruition. The World Bank provided financial support for the construction of the MCSCC headquarters, valued at approximately US$1.8 million, while the Government of Mozambique provided the land in Katembe, with construction commencing in April 2024.
Dr. Ndara further affirmed that the Board would ensure the effective utilisation of the facility and provide strong strategic oversight to guarantee its success. He assured that the Board would uphold robust governance principles to ensure that the Centre operates efficiently, transparently and in full alignment with its regional mandate.
The MCSCC represents a major milestone in Southern Africa’s efforts to protect marine resources and strengthen regional cooperation against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Supported by international partners including the World Bank, WWF and the Bloomberg Oceans Fund, the Centre is expected to play a critical role in improving fisheries management, reducing illegal fishing and strengthening maritime security.
