SADC to Hold Virtual Council of Ministers Meeting on 12 March, 2021

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will on 12 March, 2021 hold a virtual meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss issues aimed at advancing regional cooperation, integration and socio-economic development.

Honourable Veronica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Mozambique will preside over the meeting in her capacity as the Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers and will be supported by the SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax.

The Council of Ministers meeting will, among other issues, discuss the Implementation Plan of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020-30), the COVID-19 situation in the region, progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS, progress in the implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015-2063), regional Disaster Risk Management and Response, proposal to transform the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a Parliament  and the status of the signing and ratification of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement (TFTA).

The Council of Ministers is an institution spelt out in Article 11 of the SADC Treaty and is responsible for, among others, overseeing the functioning and development of SADC, approving policies, strategies and programmes of SADC as well as advising the Summit of Heads of State and Government on matters of overall policy. The Council consists of Ministers from each of the 16 Member States; usually from the Ministries responsible for Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Economic Planning or Finance.

The Programme of the meeting is as follows:

FRIDAY, 12 MARCH, 2021

09.10 – 09.20        Introductory remarks by Her Excellency, Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, SADC Executive Secretary 

09.20 – 09.40       Opening Remarks by Hon. Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Republic of Mozambique and Chairperson of SADC Council of Ministers

09.40 - 16.00        Council of Ministers Meeting in Closed Session

The outcomes of the Council of Ministers meeting will be shared with the media after the meeting. For media enquiries contact: Barbara Lopi, Head of Communications and Public Relations, SADC Secretariat; email blopi@sadc.int or telephone +267 3951863 or +267 3641790

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About SADC

SADC is an organisation of 16 Member States established in 1980. The mission of SADC is to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and socio-economic development through efficient, productive systems, deeper cooperation and integration, good governance and durable peace and security; so that the region emerges as a competitive and effective player in international relations and the world economy.