The Republic of Malawi attaches greater importance to the principles, ideals, values, goals and aspirations of Forefathers of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as encapsulated in the SADC Treaty, Honourable Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka, Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malawi, has said.
In his acceptance speech at the opening of the SADC Council of Ministers in Lilongwe, on 13 August 2021, Hon. Mkaka said his country is committed to continue spearheading the implementation of programmes and projects derived from the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030 as guided by the SADC Vision 2050.
“We are also resolved to sustaining the implementation of programmes drawn from the theme of the Republic of Mozambique for the 40th SADC Summit titled ‘SADC: 40 Years Building Peace and Security, and Promoting Development and Resilience in the Face of Global Challenges’,” he said.
Hon. Mkaka said the Council meeting was taking place at a time no country has been spared in the wake of the socio-economic situation wrecked and decimated by the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.
“We will need to muster as a Region and have coordinated efforts to respond to external shocks that have caused devastating reversals on economic gains achieved by SADC. This meeting provides us with a rare opportunity to discuss the socio-economic hurdles in the Region and thrash out workable solutions to rebound our economies on the sustainable path for inclusive and economic growth,” he said.
The emergency of COVID-19 pandemic, Hon. Mkaka said, would not only require SADC to redouble its efforts in industrialisation, but also embrace digital technological and knowledge transfer in order to attain these ambitious goals so as to maximise new market opportunities brought forth by the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He said he believed that SADC has got capacities and capabilities to surmount the current challenges and bounce back better and stronger on the road to regional prosperity. SADC remains a pivotal organisation with a common vision and purpose of creating an integrated community with harmonised policies in order to deepen economic cooperation and integration for the wellbeing of SADC citizens.
“I strongly count on your support for the Government of the Republic of Malawi to successfully champion the regional integration agenda during its SADC Chairship. We are looking forward to working closely with you all to ensure that SADC takes forward bold steps with renewed determination in its integration agenda,” said Hon. Mkaka.
The Outgoing Chairperson of SADC Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mozambique, Honourable Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo, hailed the regional bloc for ensuring that its bodies continued to function effectively, thus allowing progress to be made in the implementation of outlined objectives in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also speaking at the opening of the SADC Council of Ministers meeting, Hon. Dlhovo said Mozambique assumed the rotating Chairship of SADC against the COVID-19 bleak background and that it was in this murky framework that the country defined and implemented its priorities within the global SADC Agenda.
Hon. Dlhovo said since the Ministers last meeting in August 2020, the spread of infections from the COVID-19 pandemic remains serious due to the impact of the third wave that still severely affects the Region. SADC thus needs to remain vigilant, maintain monitoring and continue to promote compliance with all precautionary measures determined by the health authorities.
She expressed appreciation to SADC Member States for the application of firm and bold measures that included the allocation of additional resources with a view to mitigating the socio-economic impact of the pandemic.
It was in the context of COVID-19 that Mozambique had to ensure the activities outlined with a view to materialising the 40th Summit theme “SADC: 40 Years Building Peace and Security, Promoting Development and Resilience in the Face of Global Challenges.”
During Mozambique’s Chairship, SADC carried out a series of activities, including events, statutory and non-statutory meetings, the highlight of which was the 40th Ordinary SADC Summit in Maputo in June this year, in face-to-face format, and whose results fully contributed to boosting the implementation of the initiatives defined in the framework of the Chairship of Mozambique.
She said the 40th Summit was a milestone in the achievement of important priorities, with emphasis on the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of SADC. The celebration of the 40th Anniversary of SADC served as a pretext for the Region to pay the deserved tribute to His Excellency Kenneth Kaunda, the Founding President of Zambia who perished days before the Summit. The Summit was also an opportunity to pay tribute to other personalities and children of the Region who gave part of their wisdom and talent to the progress of SADC.
The decision on concrete measures for the restoration of stability in the province of Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique, with the deployment of the SADC Standby Brigade had also been taken at the 40th Summit, she said. The deployment of SADC forces to Mozambique constituted a clear and unequivocal reaffirmation of the sense of traditional brotherhood and cohesion that characterises SADC countries as a regional bloc.
Hon. Dlhovo said Mozambique recognises the enormous sacrifices made by the Member States which agreed to send their best children on a mission to support the country and that Mozambique will eternally be grateful for this priceless gesture of bravery, which was joined by others from the continent and international partners.
She also said the launch of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) in the Mozambican port city of Nacala, within the framework of promoting climate change resilience, deserves special mention as another major achievement by SADC.
“This achievement, together with the holding of the SADC Business Forum, on the sidelines of the 40th Summit, embodies our commitment to the regional development and integration agenda.
“With this in mind, I would like, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Mozambique and on my own behalf, to express our most sincere greetings to all Member States, particularly Your Excellencies, for their support. Thanks to your collaboration, it was possible to implement the priorities and objectives of the Chairship of Mozambique,” she said.
The pursuit of these priorities, which are of regional interest, illustrated the manifestation of the spirit of collective and concerted action prevailing within the SADC Member States.
The finalisation of the formulation of the post-2020 Agenda culminated in the conception of the SADC Vision 2050. It also culminated with the launch of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-30. These instruments were approved during Mozambique’s chairship of SADC.
Hon. Dlhovo underlined that industrialisation remains at the centre of the SADC integration agenda, as advocated in the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063. This important regional instrument, she said, could advance with impetus if the private sector effectively participates in its implementation. To that end, an effective regional mechanism for private sector engagement should be put in place.
She said in this context, the successful holding of the First SADC Business Forum on the 22nd and 23rd June 2021, on the sidelines of the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, was a great achievement for SADC in the wake of actions that must converge in promoting the industrialisation of the Region. The Business Forum was held under the theme “SADC Private and Public Sector Dialogue: Entrepreneurship, Investment and Doing Business in the SADC Region”.
