President Mnangagwa Hands Over SADC Chairmanship to Madagascar’s Rajoelina

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday officially handed over the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairmanship to Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina at the 45th SADC Summit in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Mnangagwa, who assumed the role on 17 August last year, said the regional bloc had made progress in promoting democracy, peace, and good governance during his tenure. He highlighted key achievements such as the full acquisition of the SADC Secretariat Headquarters in Botswana and the launch of a regional logistics depot to strengthen conflict and disaster response.

In his keynote address, the President urged SADC leaders to protect the legacy of the bloc’s founders by defending a fair, rules-based global order. He also called for innovative funding mechanisms, including partnerships with the private sector and diaspora, to support infrastructure projects and regional integration.

Mnangagwa commended SADC’s efforts to address insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the appointment of a panel of five former African heads of state to mediate peace efforts. He welcomed complementary peace initiatives led by the African Union, USA, and Qatar.

The outgoing Chair acknowledged challenges such as climate change, droughts, and limited intra-regional trade. He urged member states to invest more in industrialisation, agriculture, and energy transition to build resilience and food security.

He also paid tribute to late regional leaders, Namibia’s founding President Sam Nujoma and former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, and expressed gratitude to SADC for supporting Zimbabwe in its call for the removal of Western sanctions.

In his acceptance speech, President Rajoelina pledged to build on Mnangagwa’s work, focusing on industrialisation, stronger economic links, and greater self-reliance for the region.

The summit was attended by several regional leaders, including South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Botswana’s Duma Boko, Mozambique’s Daniel Chapo, Namibia’s Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, and Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.