16 Aug 2015

At least 12 Heads of State are expected to attend the 35^th Ordinary session of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government Summit that commences in Gaborone on Monday August 17.

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama is expected to open the summit under the theme: Accelerating Industrialisation of SADC Economies Through Transformation of Natural Environment and Improved Human Capital.

President Khama will take over the chairpersonship of the regional body from Zimbabwe’s president, Mr Robert Mugabe.

The SADC Summit is expected to discuss topical issues affecting the regional block including financing to key projects and tackling poverty issues as well as the implementation of the recently adopted Regional Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap.

Furthermore, the summit is also likely to review progress towards achieving the objectives outlined in the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2015 – 2020.

The RISDP is the blueprint for the SADC programme of action on achieving regional economic development and will guide the implementation of SADC programmes over the next five years, with a particular focus on industrial development and market integration, infrastructure in support of regional integration, and peace and security cooperation, among other issues.

The SADC leaders expected to arrive for the two-day meeting include King Mswati III of Swaziland, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi of Mozambique, Peter Mutharika of Malawi and Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC.

Others are Hery Rajonarimampianina of Madagascar, Namibia’s Dr Hage Geingob, Zambia’s Edgar Lungu, Manuel Domingos Vicente of Angola and Lesotho’ s prime minister Dr Pakalitha Mosisili as well as Heads of Governments from Seychelles and Mauritius.

According to the programme, President Khama is also expected to host a state banquet for the SADC Heads of State and Government this evening before officially closing the meeting tomorrow. 

Meanwhile, First Ladies of the SADC region will also hold a one-day meeting on the side lines of the summit whose outcome will be presented to the Heads of State and Government.

Other key note speakers expected during the summit include Donald Kaberuka, the president of the African Development Bank, whose institution provides financing to projects in the region and the deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr Erastus Mwencha.

The summit that ends on Tuesday August 18 was preceded by the Council of Ministers that was chaired by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr Kenneth Mathambo, who was taking over the chairpersonship of council of ministers from the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Zimbabwe, Mr Simbarashe Mumbengegwi. ENDS