President Emmerson Mnangagwa has formally handed over the SADC Chairpersonship to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit in Durban, South Africa.
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Read E-PaperIn his farewell message, Mnangagwa thanked Ramaphosa for his leadership as interim SADC Chairperson. He also praised Malawi for leading SADC’s Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Mnangagwa thanked SADC member states for supporting Zimbabwe’s successful bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, saying Africa’s voice remained strong internationally.
He expressed solidarity with the Democratic Republic of Congo over its security challenges and the Ebola outbreak, while also paying tribute to former acting Zambian President Guy Scott.
On the region’s economic future, Mnangagwa called for greater self-reliance and urged SADC countries to reduce their dependence on donor funding.
“Local communities should benefit directly from the region’s natural resources through value addition and mineral processing,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also called for more investment in agro-processing, skills development, innovation and technology to improve food security and strengthen regional economies.
“The Kazungula Water Project, which links Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia, as an example of regional cooperation to improve water security and trade,” President Mnangagwa stated.
He further called for stronger early-warning systems for climate-related disasters and funding to complete the permanent SADC Standby Force headquarters in Botswana.
“Together, as a united SADC, we will build a resilient, industrialised and self-reliant region,” President Mnangagwa said, as he congratulated Ramaphosa on assuming the SADC Chairpersonship.
